Major facelift for cancer unit facilities in Aylesbury

Work has been completed on a major refurbishment project at the Cancer Care and Haematology Unit (CCHU), Stoke Mandeville Hospital, near Aylesbury.

The £30,000 cost of the refurbishment – which involved the nurses' staff room and a patient kitchen at the Unit – will be met entirely by funding from the Cancer Care and Haematology Fund (CCHF), the charity that supports Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trusts cancer and haematology service.

An £8,500 grant towards the cost has also been made by The Clare Foundation, the Aylesbury-based charity that brings together key stakeholders, partners, businesses and charitable organisations to facilitate and create positive change across society in Buckinghamshire.

Jenny Ricketts, Chief Nurse of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful to CCHF and The Clare Foundation for making this possible. We know that improving the environment for our colleagues and patients has a massive impact on their wellbeing, improving morale and outcomes.”

Nicola Gilham, Chair of CCHF, said: “We're delighted to be able to make this significant investment in the cancer and haematology service. The comfort and convenience of both clinical staff and patients leads to a much better overall experience for those who are undergoing lengthy and sometimes arduous treatment.

“We are grateful to all of our supporters, and particularly the Clare Foundation in this case, who allow us to add real value to the wonderful work of NHS Trust's cancer and haematology service in Buckinghamshire.”

Mike Clare, President and Founder of The Clare Foundation, said: “We’re very pleased to support this refurbishment, which will make a genuine difference to both patients and staff at the Cancer Care and Haematology Unit. When people are facing the challenges of cancer treatment, having comfortable, welcoming spaces can mean a great deal. This project shows what can be achieved when local charities work closely with the NHS to care for people across Buckinghamshire.”

CCHF is a charity set up to help those with cancer and haematology based illnesses. Through public fundraising a specialist treatment unit – the CCHU - was built and opened at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in January 2001 by the Princess Royal. The charity continues to provide financial support for projects that benefit patients cared for at the CCHU, the Sunrise Unit at Wycombe Hospital and in community settings across Buckinghamshire and neighbouring counties.

Cash is raised by donations from a generous public and the charity is managed by a team of trustees who give their time for free so that as much money as possible benefits the support and comfort of patients. For more information go to www.cchf.org.uk (external site).

The Clare Foundation was set up in 2009 by local entrepreneur Mike Clare with the aim of helping improve the efficiency of other charities in Buckinghamshire, offering free support and advice, small grants, training, and networking events. The second focus for the charity is to help people with their confidence, self-esteem and general happiness.

In September 2025 the Foundation's Angels' Den event at Chesham's Elgiva Hall made a number of grants to local charities, including £10,000 to Myeloma UK, the charity that supports people suffering from a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.