PLANS have been put forward for a 'homely centre' that will give psychological and emotional support to patients diagnosed with cancer and their family members.

This will be situated in the grounds of Glan Clwyd Hospital and will be accompanied by a ‘secret garden’ at the South and East of the building that will provide respite from the clinical world. 

Proposals have been put forward by charity Maggie’s - a charity providing free cancer support and information in centres across the UK and online.

The building will feature various meeting spaces and will cater for "group support and individual reflection", all of which revolve around a central dining table.

A Design and Access Statement, prepared by HB Architects to accompany the full planning application for the new Maggie’s Cancer Support Centre, says: "The Cancer Centre at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is located at Glan Clwyd Hospital provides specialist non-surgical treatments for people with cancer. The three main specialities are oncology, haematology, and radiotherapy. Whilst some oncology and haematology services are also delivered at Ysbyty Gwynedd and Wrexham Maelor Hospital, the largest number of cancer patients and their families are treated at Glan Clwyd.

"Since 2019, the Cancer Management Team from Betsi Cadwaladr UHB, led by Dr Caroline Usborne and Geraint Roberts, has been working with Maggie’s to consider the possibility of developing a purpose-built Maggie’s centre.

"There are approx 4,600 new cancers diagnosed across North Wales every year, and there is growing need for additional psychological and emotional support for patients and family members.

"A Maggie’s in North Wales would mean Maggie’s have full coverage of the country.

"Its programme would complement support being delivered at our existing two centres at Velindre Cancer Centre in South East Wales and at the Singleton Hospital for the South West.

"Once Maggie’s North Wales is established at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Maggie’s is committed to working with BCUHB to create accessible cancer support across the region, particularly at Ysbyty Gwynedd and Wrexham Maelor Hospital."

Space for the centre is being created by a re-arrangement of part of the existing car park and verge area at the main site entrance.

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The Design and Access Statement added: "After some discussion with the hospital board, it was decided that the most appropriate available sites, in prominent locations, were over existing car park areas.

"After investigation of several suggested sites within the hospital grounds, it was decided that the most appropriate site was the piece of land (predominantly under used grassland) on the south side of the southern entrance into the hospital campus from Rhuddlan Road.

"The proposed new centre is therefore positioned directly opposite the southeast facing main entrance to the hospital, from which it is possible to access the cancer centre."

There are currently 26 Maggie’s in operation in the UK and around the world.

A statement into the building design reads: "The garden perimeter boundary adjacent to the building is a mixture of rendered walls and stone gabion fences set in landscaped areas. The design creates a symbolic ‘secret garden’ at the South and East of the building that will provide respite from the clinical world outside the wall.

"The design of the curvaceous wall in the design sweeps round to the entrance leading to the front door to the building.

"This is in order to deliver a very important aspect of the Maggie’s brief: a journey to the centre that is clear and legible but provides opportunities to pause and sit in semi privacy to enable visitors to summon the strength to cross the threshold into the centre."

The Maggie's Centre will be a building that patients can visit as often as they like and a place where expert medical advice as well as “practical, psychological and emotional support” can be sought. 

The 'Maggie's Mission' states: "For more than two decades Maggie’s has pioneered a programme of psychological, practical, and social support from its growing number of centres.

"This is free of charge to anyone with any type of cancer for as long as they need it.

"We provide visitors with our unique model of support tailored to meet the individual needs of anyone affected by cancer in a calm, uplifting space."

Maggie's Centres are designed by "award winning and internationally renowned architects" and are located next to major NHS cancer centres but run independently.