RM Magazine - autumn 2012 - The Royal Marsden

Ellis Ward
A welcoming environment
The state-of-the-art Ellis Ward at Chelsea is now open. We take a tour of the modernised facility
ellis Ward has re-opened as a stateof-the-art
facility at our Chelsea site
following an extensive refurbishment
and modernisation programme. Many of
the changes in the new Ellis Ward become
immediately apparent on entering the unit.
The sense of space and natural light at
every bed is noticeable, and its bright
colours and designs are eye-catching.
There is a large new lounge area where
patients can relax and help themselves
to hot and cold drinks.
Ellis Ward now contains 14 beds, with
two single rooms and three four-bedded
bay areas. The refurbishment of the unit
includes modernised bathroom facilities
next to the bedded bays, and en-suites for
the single rooms. Each bedside has also
had a new patient entertainment system
installed. The refurbishment of the ward,
for women with breast, gynaecological,
gastrointestinal or genitourinary cancers,
was due to a generous donation from
Jimmy Thomas, whose late wife, Alma,
was treated at the hospital. The redesign
has been based on the wishes of Alma,
ellis ward refurbishment
who wanted every patient staying on the
ward to enjoy the “highest levels of comfort”.
Mr Thomas says: “My wife Alma died
on 31 December 2008 at the age of 74. Her
treatment here at The Royal Marsden was
excellent and the staff were superb, but we
both felt the environment of the ward did
not match up to the standard of care.
“We wanted to rebuild and modernise
the facilities, to increase comfort and dignity
for patients on the ward and improve the
environment for the staff working on the
ward. In the redesign, we wanted to capture
the promise of hope at The Royal Marsden.
Central to the theme is the purple anemone,
which was Alma’s favourite flower and
appears throughout the ward. It is my vision
of a ward of the future. I am thrilled with the
look of the new ward; it is a warm and safe
environment for patients to be when they
are undergoing treatment.”
Professor Martin Gore, Medical Director
at The Royal Marsden, says: “We are
delighted with the new modernisation of
Ellis Ward. We are grateful to the generosity
of Mr Thomas and his family. By funding
the refurbishment of this ward, they have
realised his wife’s vision of creating a
state-of-the-art unit with a warm and
welcoming environment that ensures the
highest levels of comfort for NHS patients.”
Ellis Ward patient Irene Hill strongly
approves of the change: “I’ve been a patient
on old Ellis and new Ellis. The standard of
care has always been out of this world, but
the new ward, and the way it’s been organised
and designed... what a difference!” rm
Jimmy thomas
generously
donated towards
the ellis ward
refurbishment
The way the new ward
has been organised and
designed... what a difference!
irene hill, ellis ward patient
18 RM MAGAzINE