Media Release
Date: 15 October 2026
£500k children's project completed at the RUH thanks to local cancer charity
A major project transforming the care environment for children with cancer has been unveiled at the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) NHS Foundation Trust.
The works, funded entirely by Bath Cancer Unit Support Group (BCUSG) through the generosity of its supporters and fundraisers, have upgraded key areas of the Children's Outpatients department, creating a more welcoming and therapeutic environment for young patients, their families and hospital staff.
Improvements include two additional treatment spaces for up to five patients at a time, modernised medication preparation facilities, refurbished waiting areas, enhanced clinical workspaces and a more open and accessible reception area.
This will particularly benefit children and young people who are being treated for cancer, who now have a calming dedicated space for their care.
Dr Polly Bates, RUH Associate Specialist in Paediatric Oncology, said: "We are incredibly grateful to BCUSG for their generous support. The project has totally transformed the space we provide our care in and this has really created a buzz across the team.
"It's a more comfortable and nurturing environment for the children we care for and their families, and the improvements will also help us to work more efficiently.
"Many of our cancer patients have multiple hospital visits over extended periods, and we know they will really benefit from these changes."
BCUSG has worked closely with the RUH for many years, and this latest £495,000 investment demonstrates an ongoing commitment to supporting cancer services by providing clinical equipment, enhanced facilities and services that fall outside NHS funding.
As one example, BCUSG also funds a nurse associate to have 12 hours of dedicated time each week to make home and school visits to children with cancer. This enables them to have blood tests and some other routine check-ins without having to travel to the RUH, reducing time missed from education.
Michael Taylor, Chairman of the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group said: "We at BCUSG were delighted to be able to provide further support to Dr Polly Bates and her team at the RUH Paediatric Oncology team.
"The improvements which have been carried out at the unit will improve the experience of children undergoing treatments. They will also improve the working conditions for staff and enable more patients to be treated. "We are very grateful to a large number of our supporters who donated to the appeal or raised funds for it."
ENDS