Our projects
The Trustees have a good working relationship with the Cancer Unit’s consultants and nursing staff and it is from them that new projects will be suggested. It constantly surprises me the ingenuity of some of the items of equipment which we are asked to support.
Many of these items achieve huge gains for the patients, both in terms of the quality of the diagnosis or treatment and its effectiveness and also in reducing the length of time that these treatments take which can then of course have an impact on reducing waiting times.
Frome medical centre
Frome Medical Centre is to be used as a community SACT outreach facility for low complexity treatments of these types – this excludes those requiring radiotherapy. The staff administering SACT in Frome will rotate between the RUH Dyson Cancer Centre and the service will comply with national standards for administration of SACT.
Paediatric Oncology nursing associate
The paediatric oncology team currently have 1.48 whole time equivalent paediatric oncology outreach nursing support.
These specialist nurses visit paediatric patients at home or school every week to obtain monitoring blood counts and use the results to adjust treatment doses on a weekly basis.
The Richard Oatley Foundation
We are delighted to have received a donation from the above Foundation to fund the acquisition of the AI Auto Contouring Software. A contribution is also being raised by one of the surgeons, Stuart Gillett who is competing in a Deca-ironman event in Mexico and is raising sponsorship with a target of £15,000. (Update: he actually raised £25,218!)
Airgloves
The Airglove is an air warming system to improve access to veins prior to administration of drugs such as chemotherapy. It consists of a heating unit and tube containing a heat outlet, and single-use disposable double-walled polythene ‘gloves’.
Other projects
•2019 – Two Real Time Position Management Respiratory Gating Systems (£62K)
•2019 – Out of Hours Helpline for chemotherapy outpatients (£68K)
•2019 – Development of a Quiet Room for families of patients with palliative end of life care needs (£14,318)
•2019 – A trial of the Clinical and Cost Effectiveness of Low Level Laser in the management of oral mucositis in head and neck irridation (£4,150)
•2017 – Additional equipment for the Positron Scanner (£90K)
Other projects
•2012 – New work station to allow radiologists to assess images from a new mobile scanner
•2012 – A grant to the charity ‘Positive Action on Cancer’ which provides free professional counselling to anyone affected by the condition
•2012 – Specialist high resolution monitors to view mammography images
•2012 – New X-ray equipment to treat patients with skin cancer
•2012 – Software allowing doctors to view cancer scan images from more computer terminals
•2012 – Five patient and three chemotherapy trolleys
•2011 – Funding an enhanced digital mammography facility
•2011 – Refurbishing a quiet room in the Uro Oncology Dept
Other projects
•2012 – New work station to allow radiologists to assess images from a new mobile scanner
•2012 – A grant to the charity ‘Positive Action on Cancer’ which provides free professional counselling to anyone affected by the condition
•2012 – Specialist high resolution monitors to view mammography images
•2012 – New X-ray equipment to treat patients with skin cancer
•2012 – Software allowing doctors to view cancer scan images from more computer terminals
•2012 – Five patient and three chemotherapy trolleys
•2011 – Funding an enhanced digital mammography facility
•2011 – Refurbishing a quiet room in the Uro Oncology Dept
•2010 – Purchasing Terarecon Client Image manipulation software
•2010 – Replacing the superficial X-ray treatment unit
•2009 – Constructing a quiet room where diagnoses can be discussed
•2008 – Additional patients toilets
•2006 – Setting up a Cancer Information Centre
•2004 – Providing the radioactive ‘seeds’ at the start of the Prostrate Brachytherapy service
•2003 – New day treatment unit
•2000 – Purchasing a second Linear Accelerator
•1998 – Relocating the cytology (cervical smear) laboratory
•1994 – A day treatment centre for chemotherapy patients
•1991 – Refurbishing the Oncology reception & waiting areas
Selection of projects
The Trustees receive requests for funding from various consultants and other medical staff involved in cancer treatments.
We have a very detailed Funding Application form which has to be completed by the applicant and be countersigned by two senior members of the RUH administration. They confirm that if the equipment is funded by us that it will be supported and has a location in the RUH from which it can operate.
Frequently we have more applications than we can fund. Thus each request is reviewed in detail by the Trustees and appropriate questions are sent back to the medical staff, before any decision is made by the Trustees.
Omniboards & Respiratory Belts
Patient immobilisation for accurate positioning is a vital aspect of radiation therapy as it ensures accurate delivery of treatment to the tumour site whilst minimising dose to healthy tissue. With increased technical advances immobilisation may also allow reduction to treatment margins around the treatment target, again resulting in less dose to normal tissue, minimising side effects and potential increase in dose to the target improving cure rates.
MVision artificial intelligence
AI auto-contouring is a process where software algorithms are used to automatically identify and outline healthy tissues in medical images, such as CT or MRI scans. This technology can help clinical oncologists to create accurate treatment plans by providing precise contours of the surrounding healthy organs in order to limit the radiotherapy dose to these.
Paxman Scalp Coolers
Hair loss (Alopecia) is a common and distressing side effect of chemotherapy treatment.
Scalp cooling is a method of minimising chemotherapy induced hair loss. It works by inducing vasoconstriction and reduction of metabolism. Vasoconstriction leads to reduced blood flow to the hair follicles during the peak period for peak plasma concentration of chemotherapy agents being administered.
Surface Guided Radiotherapy systems
Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) systems for the new cancer centre being built at the RUH.
SGRT reduces the risk to adjoining tissue such as the heart, lungs or brain if the patient moves during radiotherapy. The equipment switches off automatically if the patient moves at all.
State Gamma Camera
An upgraded Solid– State Gamma Camera. The NHS funded a standard model. BCUSG added an additional £340K, enabling a more advanced model to be purchased. The first of its type to be installed in the UK.
The first fixed site Positron (PET-CT) Scanner Unit
The first fixed site Positron (PET-CT) Scanner Unit in an NHS hospital in the West Country together with Wall & Ceiling Art (£1.2M)
Other projects
•2010 – Purchasing Terarecon Client Image manipulation software
•2010 – Replacing the superficial X-ray treatment unit.
25th Anniversary
This year was the 25th anniversary of Bath Cancer Unit Support Group, and the then Duchess of Cornwall congratulated BCUSG on it’s work in support of the Cancer Unit.
