When did the idea for The Big Space Appeal first come up, and what was the inspiration behind it?
The vision for a new Big Space for cancer care originated more than a decade ago, by the team of consultant oncologists who were finding that the great care they were providing to patients and their families was not matched by the building and environment where they worked, diagnosing and treating patients.
What does the Big Space Cancer Appeal hope to achieve?
The new building will place our patients at the centre of the multi-disciplinary teams that serve them, providing transformed, welcoming spaces for deeply important conversations and decisions.
• A space to care – each new clinical treatment room will be bigger, with large windows bringing in lots of natural light. There will be space for more family members to join in appointments. There will be a soothing environment and complementary artwork. Brand new, comfortable furniture and modern clinical equipment.
• A space to talk – private spaces to hear your diagnosis, test results or an ‘all clear’ and the space to deal with these private moments.
• A space to think – the new centre will have large, calm rooms, filled with natural light,for families to sit and process news together following a consultation or diagnosis.
• A space to recover – to rest and have a cup of tea or a cold drink after receiving treatment. A new waiting area will offer a large, open space for patients to wait together in comfort, with floor-to-ceiling windows opening out onto beautiful gardens.
• A space to rest – a place of hope, healing and rest, thoughtfully decorated, providing a tasteful, restful healing environment every cancer patient needs.
• A space to innovate – the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge research trials that help to improve the diagnosis of cancer patients across the UK, providing new practical spaces in which clinicians can learn and innovate.
Can you describe the impact that The Summerfield Charitable Trust’s support has had on the Appeal?
The Summerfield Trust’s donation of £2 million to the Big Space Cancer Appeal has provided a huge boost to our fundraising efforts, helping us reach the halfway mark of our ambitious target.
As part of their donation, The Summerfield Trust will be recognised as a major funder of the new, state-of-the-art building.
Our vision for the future of cancer care is a holistic one, moving beyond excellent clinical treatment to prioritise the patient’s entire journey. With the new build designed to enhance prehabilitation, rehabilitation, and long-term wellbeing, this modern, spacious, and fully accessible building will serve as a bigger, brighter home for healing.
Within the new build, key areas will be dedicated to prehabilitation, rehabilitation and psychological support. These light and airy spaces, with clear focal points to simplify navigation, are enhanced by surrounding green spaces. These include a dedicated patient garden and a therapeutic wildlife corridor, offering peaceful views from comfortable waiting areas. This carefully considered environment goes far beyond standard hospital provision, creating a calming backdrop for recovery.
A multidisciplinary therapy team of dieticians, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists and clinical nurse specialists will work from this hub to optimise care before, during and after treatment. From private spaces to decompress, trained staff and volunteers will offer vital wellbeing, nutrition and rehabilitation guidance, emotional support, and financial advice. This integrated model of care, in collaboration with our partners, ensures the best possible health outcomes and promotes the long-term well-being of our community.
Being identified by The Summerfield Trust as a hugely important project that will make a lasting difference to the people of Gloucestershire has been a great accolade for our appeal,for which we are extremely grateful.
What are the anticipated timescales of the project and next steps?
• Submitting planning permission – Autumn 2025
• Planning consent given – Winter 2025
• NHS procurement process to appoint builders
• Spades in the ground – Spring 2026
Cheltenham already has a reputation for strength and excellence when it comes to cancer diagnosis and treatment. How will The Big Space enhance this further?
By having the healing and therapeutic space to allow patients to begin their cancer journey in as positive a way as possible. The new building will also give our amazing staff a much-improved environment to do their important work.
How will the new space differ from what is already on offer, i.e. what facilities will it have that are not already there?
• A bright natural reception area
• Spacious, comfortable treatment rooms
• Digital consultation rooms so patients don’t always have to travel in for their appointments which is also good for the environment
• The modern design will enable greater teamwork and more efficiency for our clinical staff – the patient centred design will mean less time waiting and moving around, reducing visit durations, increasing the number of patients that can be seen each day and will help reduce waiting times.
When open what you anticipate will be the throughput and how many people do you anticipate being treated there in a year?
Since the start of 2020, there have been 25,913 patients referred to Oncology at Gloucestershire Hospitals. This number has risen each year, and we expect more than 5000 referrals in 2025.