Tilbury Douglas completes Yeovil Hospital’s new £2.5m breast cancer unit
Tilbury Douglas, a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering, and fit-out business, has successfully completed and handed over Yeovil Hospital’s new breast cancer unit on behalf of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
The brand new £2.5 million Maple Unit, procured via the Procure Partnerships Framework, opened in early October 2024 following a five-year long fundraising campaign, run by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s official charity, which saw members of the community, the Tilbury Douglas team, former patients and colleagues at the hospital take part in hundreds of events to raise money for the unit.
The c.500m2 facility, based across two floors, is the Hospital’s first stand-alone, purpose-built breast cancer unit.
With social value at the heat of the scheme, the Tilbury Douglas team achieved a 48% Social Value Return on Investment, triple what was initially targeted. Key events included fundraising and participation in the International Cycle 42, green skills workshops at local education providers, and volunteering for local events/fundraisers. The team also offered work experience opportunities and apprenticeship and internship training weeks on site, as well as attending multiple careers events with Yeovil College.
Paul Gale, Regional Director – South West at Tilbury Douglas, said: “We are very proud to have successfully completed this important scheme for patients in Yeovil and the surrounding area. Bringing all the relevant services together in one place and enabling patients to receive all their tests in one, purpose-built facility, making the experience less stressful and more comfortable. Our team delivered the project on a complex site and we would like to thank hospital staff, visitors and patients, along with other contractors working on site, for their patience during the project.”
Designed with lots of art and natural light, The Maple Unit, also offers a dedicated area for difficult conversations, and a comfortable waiting area, away from other busy outpatient areas and treatment rooms.
Caroline Osborne, a consultant breast surgeon at Yeovil Hospital, says she’s thrilled that the Maple Unit is finally opening following a long fundraising campaign: “This is amazing news and I’m over the moon that it’s finally opening. It has been such a long time in the making, from when we first came up with the idea 10 years ago, and the incredible fundraising campaign that followed, to seeing the unit getting built before our very eyes.”