Supporting Cancer Services Since 1979

We support the cancer services at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath by raising funds for vital equipment, enhanced facilities, and essential services.

Bath Cancer Unit Support Group History

For over 45 years, we have supported cancer services at the Royal United Hospitals Bath, by raising funds for vital equipment, enhanced facilities, and essential services that fall outside NHS funding.

We are a small, local charity run entirely by volunteers. Every pound we raise helps provide additional resources that enhance patient care and improve the experience of those receiving cancer treatment locally.

The early days

The charity’s origins date back to 1979, when Shepton Mallet farmer Chris Norman learned that the cancer unit at the Royal United Hospital in Bath was at risk of closure and relocation to Bristol. In response, Chris launched the Bath Cancer Unit Appeal to raise funds for a Linear Accelerator — a crucial piece of equipment used to deliver radiotherapy treatment.

The appeal received strong support from local oncologists and Shepton Mallet Round Table. Thanks to their combined efforts and the generosity of the local community, cancer treatment services were successfully retained in Bath.Today, cancer care remains one of the four core medical specialties at the Royal United Hospital.

Further growth, 2017-2026

Today, we are led by our Chairman, Michael Taylor, and a Board of Trustees who, together with our donors & supporters, have raised over £6.5 million since 1979.

Cancer care is one of the four core medical specialities at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

Building on the success of the original appeal, we have remained committed to ensuring that local cancer patients receive the highest standard of care, close to home.

The Royal United Hospitals Bath Cancer Centre specialises in the treatment of cancer and haematology conditions. Patients are cared for by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, specialist nurses, pharmacists, and radiographers within the state-of-the-art Dyson Cancer Centre, which opened in April 2024 at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

looking to the future

Your donations make a genuine and lasting difference to cancer services at the Royal United Hospital. Since 1979, supporter generosity has helped improve treatment outcomes and enhance the wellbeing of local cancer patients in many meaningful ways.

Frome cancer centre

In 2025, funding was secured for a new Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment (SACT) Centre at Frome Medical Centre. This important project was made possible through a grant from The Richard Oatley Foundation, generous donations from local Rotary organisations and individual supporters, and fundraising support from Sainsbury’s Frome.

Picture: Chairman Michael Taylor at the opening of the Frome Treatment Centre, February 2026.

Paediatric nurses

We have also provided ongoing fundraising support for the paediatric oncology team, helping to fund a paediatric oncology outreach nurse. These specialist nurses visit young patients at home or school each week to carry out monitoring blood tests and adjust treatment doses accordingly, reducing hospital visits.

and supporting families closer to home. We are proud to have supported this vital outreach role for several years.

Picture: Paediatric oncology outreach nurses, Royal United Hospital, Bath.

The Royal United Hospitals Bath Cancer Centre

Clinics are held for newly referred patients, those currently undergoing treatment, and individuals attending follow-up appointments.

Supporting outpatients

The centre’s waiting areas support patients attending consultations, radiotherapy sessions, and chemotherapy treatments. We are pleased to provide complimentary tea and coffee for patients receiving outpatient treatment, helping to create a welcoming and comfortable environment during their visits.

Picture: Outpatient watting area, Dyson Cancer Centre, Royal United Hospital, Bath.