Northamptonshire Health Charity

Patient-centred philanthropy has always been Northamptonshire Health Charity’s guiding light. Now, delivering equal access to first-rate healthcare is driving the charity’s ambitions to support a radical uplift in cancer care.

At the heart of this vision is a new Cancer Centre, where half of the capital costs could come from philanthropic giving, sponsorships and other sources of income.

The regional cancer picture

More than one in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. For communities across the region, that diagnosis can mean a frustrating, disjointed journey through an under-resourced system. While advances in diagnosis and treatment have improved survival rates, many patients continue to face fragmented services, long travel times and insufficient support.

There is an increasing need for a more holistic, seamless service that provides rapid diagnostics, alongside established treatments and novel therapies. With a more integrated model of care, the new Centre will also be in a stronger position to attract and retain the highest calibre of specialist surgeons, clinicians and nurses.

The fundraising opportunity

“We were delighted to be invited to undertake the fundraising feasibility work for this project,” says Amy Stevens. “When you look at other highly effective cancer care models around the country, their ‘hub and spoke’ approach features a large, specialised cancer facility (the hub) and smaller local hospitals (the spokes) that usually handle more common, less complex cancer cases. The evidence-based success of this model is something which ought to attract strong philanthropic investment both locally and nationally.”

The project is still in discussion with senior leadership at the NHS Trust exec level, to ensure the complexities of a new Centre on current hospital estates can be delivered. If approved, it will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to name a major Cancer Centre, make a dedicated gift in memory of a loved one or pledge a tax-efficient donation over time.

“Importantly,” adds Amy, “it will provide givers and grant-makers with the chance to make one of our biggest health challenges far less daunting."

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