Foundation stone laid at new Brighton NHS cancer centre

Bill Shay, 70, who lives just 200 yards from the hospital, was given the honour in recognition of his tireless fundraising and volunteering work during more than a decade of living with cancer.

Diagnosed with stage four cancer at the age of 59, he was enrolled on a clinical trial for immunotherapy by his consultant Dr Sarah Westwell.

"She's literally saved my life," Mr Shay said. "I was given a terminal stage four diagnosis, but she put me on this revolutionary new drug called immunotherapy.

"That's why I'm here today."

Bill Shay says he owes Dr Westwell his life (Image: The Argus)

The Sussex Cancer Centre will be built on the site of the hospital's old Barry Building — the second phase of the Trust's "3Ts" redevelopment — and is due to open to patients by 2029.

It will include five radiotherapy bunkers, replacing the current fleet of radiotherapy machines with the latest technology, along with a dedicated brachytherapy unit and a new assessment unit designed to allow cancer patients to be seen by specialist clinicians without needing to go through A&E.

Dr Westwell, a clinical oncologist who is also the Trust's medical director for cancer, said the new centre was "a once-in-a-generation opportunity."

Dr Sarah Westwell says the new cancer centre finally feels real now (Image: The Argus)

She said staff were already energised by the start of construction.

"This building's been coming for a long time, and today really consolidates that it isn't just coming, it's really happening," she said.

"People have known about it for a good ten years, and we keep talking about it, but it's really happening now."

Mr Shay described the current facilities as "very, very compact" but praised the staff who worked within them.

He also volunteers for Macmillan Cancer Support as an information and support volunteer at the hospital, helping newly diagnosed patients based on his own experience.

"The cancer journey isn't just about delivering medicine," he said.

"It's about the care, the support, the whole package which comes with that life-changing diagnosis."

A large crowd gathered for the ceremony (Image: The Argus)

Mr Shay was effusive about Dr Westwell, who has treated him every six weeks for more than a decade.

"I can't speak highly enough of Dr Sarah Westwell — she's literally saved my life," he said.

His wife Brenda, who accompanied him to Friday's ceremony, has supported him throughout.

"Brenda's been with me every step of the way and I couldn't have done it without her," he added.

Dr Westwell was equally warm about her long-standing patient.

"He's phenomenal," she said.

"I've been seeing him every 12 weeks for the last 10 or 11 years, so yes, I know him well — I know how he ticks, and he knows me."

Bill and Dr Westwell laying the foundation stone (Image: The Argus)

She described Mr Shay as someone who epitomises how patients with advanced cancer can continue to live full lives while on treatment.

"He comes up every six weeks for treatment and he knows the radiographers by first-name terms.

"He's part of our furniture," she said.

"He's celebrated his 70th birthday whilst on treatment, goes on holiday, volunteers, goes to work, goes out for dinner.

"That's what we want to support our patients to do."

Dr Sarah Westwell says the new facility will help recruit and retain staff (Image: The Argus)

Dr Westwell, who has been a consultant at the Trust since 2008, said the milestone carried personal significance.

"I was brought in on a promise of a new building," she said. "So I'm really excited to be able to work in it."

She said she expected the new building to help recruit and retain staff at a time when healthcare workforce pressures remain acute, adding that it would also open up research opportunities with universities and commercial partners.

Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth said the new centre would "transform cancer care for patients across Sussex."

She said: "With our National Cancer Plan published earlier this year and funding confirmed in January, seeing construction now get under way is a truly exciting moment.

"It shows what backing the NHS really means: long-term investment, modern hospitals and better care where it's needed most."

The project is funded through the government's New Hospital Programme.

Natalie Forrest, the programme's chief programme officer, said: "From the new helipad to the future cancer centre, this is about giving frontline teams the facilities they need and ensuring patients benefit from modern, high-quality care for years to come."