Celebrations as Derriford Hospital's Stem Cell Transplant Unit is officially opened

Patients, staff and members of the Plymouth and District Leukaemia Fund (PDLF) celebrated last night (Monday 14 April) as they officially opened the new Bracken Ward and Birch Day Case Unit which is part of the Stem Cell Transplant Unit.

The official ceremony took place after the Annual General Meeting of the PDLF, with more than 60 people in attendance, and was marked by the pulling of ribbons by honorary guests, which unveiled the official plaque and the cutting of a cake.

Speaking at the event, Professor Adrian Copplestone, Consultant Haematologist recognised the tremendous efforts of everyone who had made the unit possible, including the patients who helped to design it, the PDLF who provided a significant financial contribution and the Unit staff who worked tirelessly to bring it all together.

Professor Copplestone, said: “Tonight has given us the opportunity to celebrate the achievement that has been made in improving the facilities and environment for our patients.
“The facilities on Bracken Ward and Birch Day Case Unit have been enhanced for our patients and their families, thanks to the generous donations of the Plymouth and District Leukaemia Fund and the hard work of the staff who work within this area.”

Simon Murray, Treasurer of the PDLF, paid tribute to the work of Professor Copplestone during the AGM. He said: “Adrian, you are the unsung hero of this charity. You do a huge amount. Thank you.”

Also in attendance at the event was Sylvia Driscoll, a former nursing auxiliary at Derriford Hospital and who was instrumental in the setting up of the PDLF thirty years ago.

Sylvia said: “It’s just marvellous. When we set up we thought we would be able to get a few things to make it better for the patients. I was blown away by Birch and to now see this now, it’s absolute fantastic.”

Patient Pat Bannister has been visiting Birch as an outpatient for seven and a half years. She said: “The old unit used to be dingy and cramped. It is wonderful here now. If it wasn’t for the circumstances, it would be a pleasure. It is so bright and cheerful. Having better facilities makes such a difference for me and I have spent some time here. The staff in this unit are fantastic, simply fantastic.”

The Stem Cell Transplant Unit opened its doors last spring and the first patients started receiving their treatment in modern facilities, which our patients helped to design.

The Trust has invested £2.7 million in the ward, which includes 10 single rooms with en suite facilities for patients with acute leukaemia or lymphoma who need protective isolation because their immune systems are depleted due to chemotherapy treatment.

Privacy Smartglass has been installed as a partitioning system in the corridors and rooms so that patients can have privacy or see into the ward for company at the flick of a switch.
The old Birch ward has been converted into a modern Day Case Unit costing £0.7 million and comprises 18 chairs, 3 beds and a treatment room.

The unit is a further expansion of the transplant service and since it opened patients from Devon and Cornwall no longer have to travel to Bristol or London for unrelated donor stem cell transplants.

Two cheques were also presented to Professor Copplestone at the Opening. Steve Wallace, who works as part of the outside crew at Princess Yachts presented a cheque for £185, on behalf of his colleagues. The money had been given to Steve and his colleagues for a Christmas meal, however they all agreed for it to be donated to the PDLF.

The other cheque was presented to Professor Copplestone by Dawn Farrow. Dawn and her husband Dorian have been collecting pennies in memory of their son Peter who passed away two years ago. Their friends, family members and colleagues donated to ‘Pennies for Peter’ and they raised £111.38. In total Dawn and Dorian have raised just under £1,000 for the PDLF in the last two years.

More photos can be found here.