New Fountain Centre Opens for Business at the Royal Surrey

On Thursday 26^th April, the Mayor of Guildford officially opened the new Fountain Centre on Level A of St Luke’s Cancer Centre.  The Fountain Centre charity provides counselling, complementary therapies, information and support to cancer patients, their families and carers from all over Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex.   

This is the second Fountain Centre at the Trust and will work on exactly the same principles as the original (next to the chemotherapy out-patients dept level B).  There is a reception area where volunteers can welcome patients, a comfortable, peaceful waiting area and two new therapy rooms.    

The Fountain Centre has been fundraising over the last year so that it could extend the services it offers.    

Gail Maguire, Manager at the Fountain Centre, said; 

“The Fountain Centre will now be able to help even more people living with cancer.  We are most grateful to the Mayor for his commitment to helping us during his very busy year and we are pleased that he was able to round off his time in office by opening the new Centre for us.”  

The Mayor is a keen supporter of the Fountain Centre and chose it as his nominated Charity of the Year for his term of office.  He and his team have organised a number of fundraising events, including a highly successful Ball at the Radisson Hotel earlier this month.  The grand total of his contribution to Fountain Centre funds has not been finalised, but is likely to be well over £13,000, enough to cover at least two months running costs. 

Terence Patrick, Mayor of Guildford, said;  

“I am delighted that the Mayor of Guildford's Charity Ball has raised so much money for my mayoral charity the Fountain Centre.   The money raised will go a long way to ensure the continuance of the excellent work that the Fountain Centre does for cancer sufferers and their families." 

The Fountain Centre is a haven where patients and carers can feel safe enough to express their fears and anxieties. Some therapies are particularly appropriate for patients who experience pre-radiotherapy treatment problems such as anticipatory nausea and anxiety, as well as post-treatment side effects.  And as the new suite is so close to the treatment rooms, people will be able to come in without being afraid of missing their appointment.  Even if they only have a few minutes they can come in for a quick browse and book a therapy session for a later date. 

The new suite will enable the Fountain Centre to extend its support significantly as the Radiotherapy Department deals with 200 patient visits per day. The same entrance is also used by patients who visit the Nuclear Medicine area, approximately a further 30 patient visits per day.  It is much easier for all those patients, their carers and families, to access the services on offer.  

To find out more about the work of the Fountain Centre, an independent charity, visit;  www.fountaincentre.org.