The Oak Cancer Centre formally opened today, funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, a research and treatment facility that will help accelerate the development of new treatments offering hope for cancer patients worldwide. 

The Oak Cancer Centre, named after Oak Foundation, which donated £25 million to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s £70 million appeal, will enable clinicians to diagnose more cancers at an earlier stage and has been designed to enhance patients’ experience while undergoing treatment. 

A major milestone in the future of early diagnosis, research and treatment 

HRH The Prince of Wales, President of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, met some of The Royal Marsden’s first patients to be treated in the Oak Cancer Centre’s Olayan Day Care Unit and heard first-hand what a difference this building will make to them. The Oak Cancer Centre, a major milestone in the future of early diagnosis, research and treatment, has been designed to create a bright and peaceful environment with floor to ceiling windows. 

Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This Centre will help the hospital to go faster and further in the delivery of research and cancer treatments and provide the very best environments for our patients. We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s £70m fundraising appeal. The Oak Cancer Centre would not have been possible without generous Charity support from individuals from across the world, demonstrating what can be achieved when global philanthropy works in partnership with the NHS.’’ 

The Royal Marsden opened in 1851 as the world’s first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education. Today it operates as a specialist cancer hospital and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Cancer, working closely with its principal academic partner, the Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR). 

Together, The Royal Marsden and the ICR are ranked as one of the top comprehensive cancer centres in the world for the impact of their research, seeing and treating over 60,000 NHS and private patients every year. It is a centre of excellence with an international reputation for ground-breaking research and for pioneering the very latest in cancer treatments and technologies, as well as leading the way in innovative cancer diagnosis and education.