Unique fundraising collaboration for two North East hospital facilities

Three high-profile north-east charities are set to form a special partnership to support the development of a new hospital and a new centre for oncology and haematology patients including non-malignant blood disorders in Grampian.

Friends of the Neonatal Unit (part of The ARCHIE Foundation), Friends of ANCHOR and the University of Aberdeen Development Trust, supported by the NHS Grampian Endowment Fund, are joining forces to raise funds for The Baird Family Hospital and The ANCHOR Centre.

Jackie Bremner, Project Director, NHS Grampian, said: “We’ve made a significant investment of £163.7 million which covers the construction and equipping of these exciting new facilities. These buildings will be more than just the bricks, mortar and new equipment though - it’s the people who will breathe the life into them and make them a focal point for our communities for years to come.

“Whether it’s NHS staff, our patients, their families or the people who do such fantastic work on behalf of our fundraising partners, we are hugely grateful for the important role they play in helping us deliver the ‘extras’ which can’t be covered by the core NHS budget.

“These campaigns will really deliver the difference and allow us to create truly special places for patients, visitors and staff that is unrivalled anywhere in the country.

“The theme of these fundraising campaigns is ‘Delivering the Difference’ and I am certain these campaigns – with the support of the people of the north of Scotland - will help us to deliver two truly world class health care facilities.”

The ANCHOR Centre, the first of its kind in Scotland, will provide modern, high quality accommodation for the delivery of co-ordinated Oncology and Haematology out-patient and day-patient services, benefiting patients by providing enhanced clinical spaces in the same facility. The centre will be co-located with the existing Radiotherapy Centre which opened in 2013 and will include an Aseptic Pharmacy Suite and dispensary reducing patient treatment times and need to travel into Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) for medicines when going home.

The Baird Family Hospital, which is also the first of its kind in Scotland, will replace the existing ageing Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. Additionally, it will provide all breast and gynaecology services, currently located in ARI. It will also provide direct corridor links to both Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital for women who require intensive care and neonates who need specialist paediatric surgery.

Both facilities are scheduled to open during 2021.

Dr James S Milne, Chairman, Friends of ANCHOR said: “We are delighted to launch our fundraising campaign for the ANCHOR Centre. With the fundraising for ANCHOR, The Baird Family Hospital and research going live simultaneously it seemed right to collaborate for the launch and show mutual support and enthusiasm for our respective fundraising appeals; all of which will ultimately benefit the vast population within the North-east of Scotland.

“The ANCHOR Centre has been a long-awaited ambition for the Foresterhill site and to think we are only a few short years away from it opening its doors for the 65,000 patients who will use it every year is tremendous. Friends of ANCHOR has existed since the ANCHOR Unit first came into being 21 years ago and that same passionate support and partnership with NHS Grampian will continue as we strive to deliver the best for the patients.”

David Wood, Chief Executive of The ARCHIE Foundation, said: ‘We are delighted to be supporting the fundraising campaign for the Baird Family Hospital. The charities joining forces will really benefit people across Grampian and the North of Scotland.

‘The Baird Family Hospital project allows The ARCHIE Foundation to take an even wider approach to ‘making the difference’. We will play a crucial role in the development of this outstanding new hospital, while continuing to support the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.

‘The Friends of the Neonatal Unit, which is an incredibly special part of The ARCHIE Foundation, will be leading the fundraising for us as we look to collaboratively Deliver the Difference and make sure that women, babies and families across Grampian are at the very heart of the new Baird Family Hospital.’

Professor Steve Heys, Head of the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen said: “We are proud to be working with NHS Grampian and our partner charities to make these two new hospitals the very best they can be. The new discoveries and opportunities provided by the University’s ground-breaking research into cancer and women’s health will contribute to the excellent standard of care that patients will receive.