On Tuesday 25th June, the official opening of the revitalised Oak Multidisciplinary Treatment Room (MDT) took place at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, thanks to Male Uprising Guernsey (MUG) and Oak Group.

The new fit for purpose Oak MDT room will provide an up-to-date space where various doctors and specialists can meet to discuss the essential management of cancer patients in the Bailiwick with medical specialists based in the UK.

The work saw all the old carpets, ceiling tiles, wall lights and dado rails removed and the windows blocked off, giving the team a blank canvas to work with.

Thanks to the refurbishment, the room is now fully equipped with the latest audiovisual equipment. The radiotherapy workstation is the only device on loan from the PEH’s radiotherapy department so that the room can be used immediately.

The technology will enable all attendees, including those calling in from overseas, to analyse the patients’ radiological and pathological investigations during meetings.

A total of £25,000 was needed to fund the project, which was raised through the Male Uprising Guernsey charity bike rides and an extremely generous donation from Oak.

 

Mark Chasey, founder of Oak, comments: ‘Oak is a long-time supporter of MUG. We originally got involved with the MDT project as sponsors of the MUG cycle rides that were held to raise the money. However, when we heard that the charity required additional funds to make this refurbishment happen we didn’t think twice about providing the rest of the funds. The work that MUG does for the Bailiwick is invaluable and this project demonstrates an immediate improvement in clinical care that will benefit the whole community immensely; we’re proud to be a part of it.’

Trevor Kelham, Chairman of MUG, concludes: ‘The original MDT room was no longer up to standard, with very little equipment, and what was there did not do the job. ‘This room is vital to the care of the Bailiwick’s cancer patients as it provides a hub for medical professionals to seek advice from one another and specialists. Now that the room is kitted out with all the latest equipment, it will hopefully make the doctors’ jobs easier as they discuss patient treatment plans.

‘We want to say a massive thank you to Mark Chasey at Oak for the incredibly generous donation, without which this refurbishment wouldn’t have happened so quickly. ‘MUG is dedicated to not only raising awareness of male cancers in the Bailiwick, but also to ensuring that our medical professionals have access to the equipment that they need - whether that is a new flat screen to view scans or a completely refurbished room such as this.’

For more information about what Male Uprising Guernsey do and how your donations are spent, please see their website, www.mug.gg.