The name has been chosen after a competition was held to encourage ideas from patients, ex patients, relatives, carers and other members of the public. Over 100 suggestions were received, with the Beacon Centre being chosen by a panel of staff, patients, representatives of the charity SURE, Foundation Trust Governors and Non-executive Directors.

Babette Fuller, Cancer Services Manager at Musgrove said "The panel felt that The Beacon sums up the values that we aspire to here. It conveys trust, hope and warmth and we believe it will stand the test of time. We are very grateful to the many people who suggested names, it is extremely encouraging to have the support of the community in the work we are doing here."

The Beacon will open in May 2009 and will mean patients will not have to travel to Bristol for their cancer treatment apart from in a few exceptional circumstances. The Centre will have radiotherapy and inpatient oncology facilities, an expanded day case chemotherapy suite and outpatient clinic facilities. The new centre will provide radiotherapy treatment for approximately 1200 patients each year.

Notes

Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton is part of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

The hospital serves a population of 340,000 - primarily living in the area served by NHS South West. Each year almost 40,000 patients are admitted as emergencies; 10,000 patients are admitted for elective surgery; 26,000 are seen for day case surgery; 232,000 patients attend outpatient clinics; 48,000 attend Accident and Emergency, 170,000 diagnostic examinations take place and over 3000 babies are born in the Maternity Department. Almost 1000 patients are admitted to Critical Care each year.

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has an annual budget of £180 million. The hospital has over 700 beds, 30 wards, 15 operating theatres, a fully equipped diagnostic imaging department and employs 4,145 staff.

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