Work is set to get underway on a new specialist cancer services hub funded by the charitable arm of tech firm Dyson at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath.
Building work will officially start on the Dyson Cancer centre on Friday (July 23), with the facility set to serve half a million people in the South West from its scheduled opening in 2023.
The James Dyson Foundation has contributed £4m towards the new centre, the largest donation in the hospital’s history.
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The building’s design will have an emphasis on natural light and will provide space for relatives and carers to stay overnight. Inpatient rooms will be at the top of the building so that patients are offered views over the surrounding countryside.
The project comes 10 years after the opening of the Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care at the RUH, which now cares for around 500 babies annually.
The neonatal unit's design, devised by Bath architecture firm Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, has won several global awards including recognition from the Royal Institute of British Architects and Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
The founder of the Wiltshire-based firm Sir James Dyson, who visited the site in May, said: “The Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care demonstrated the very significant effect that design and architecture can have on the recovery of patients.
“The bright, well considered new spaces quickly proved their value to their tiny patients, something that we hope to replicate at the new Dyson Cancer Centre.
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“Cancer is the most terrible of diseases, but by bringing cutting edge technology, design features, natural light and therapeutic green spaces, together we hope this new building will support patients, families and staff through challenging times with better result.”
The James foundation has contributed nearly £5m to the hospital since 2010 in the form of donations, research and design.
RUH chief executive Cara Charles-Barks commented: “It’s fantastic to see work get underway on this truly special building, which will make such a difference for our community.
“We’ve worked closely with patients, staff and those with an interest in cancer services to design the Dyson Cancer Centre. It will be a nurturing and therapeutic environment where our staff can continue to provide the highest quality care, and our patients and their loved ones can receive all the support they need in one purposed designed building.”
Dyson announced in April it would create 200 new research jobs at its two innovation campus locations at Malmesbury and Hullavington Airfield.
The recruitment drive forms part of a £2.75bn investment plan the firm announced last year, in which it vowed to double its product range and grow research into robotics and artificial intelligence.
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