Great Ormond Street Hospital has announced a multi-million pound contribution from the Reuben Foundation towards the construction of The Reuben Foundation Children’s Cancer Centre - a new children’s cancer centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. The Reuben Foundation Children's Cancer Centre heralds the next step in world class cancer treatment for children at Great Ormond Street Hospital The Reuben Foundation Children’s Cancer Centre will enable Great Ormond Street Hospital to become the largest centre for paediatric cancer treatment in Europe and one of the top three largest centres in the world. This urgent need for expansion in cancer services at Great Ormond Street has been the direct result of a large number of paediatric referrals, including those from other cancer centres in London. Whilst Great Ormond Street Hospital now accommodates an additional 61% more referrals, the current facilities have not matched this fast-paced expansion. Today, resources at Great Ormond Street are operating over capacity in order to ensure that treatment is provided to the thousands of childhood cancer sufferers who come to the hospital each year.
This generous donation follows a recent visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital by the Reuben Foundation who recognise the urgent and important need to treat more children suffering with cancer in modern, state of the art facilities.
David and Simon Reuben are the Joint Chief Executives of Reuben Brothers, an international organisation involved in private equity investments and real estate ownership and development. The Reuben Foundation was established in October 2002 in order to make a substantial philanthropic impact in the areas of healthcare and education in the UK.
The Reuben Foundation Children’s Cancer Centre will provide a new Daycare Centre, Outpatient Department and three inpatient wards situated within Great Ormond Street Hospital. Construction will begin on the 15th January with the centre due to open in two phases, the first by June 2007 and the second by December 2007.
Dr Jane Collins, Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Chief Executive has paid to the support from the Reuben Foundation;
"" Over the course of our 150 year history Great Ormond Street Hospital has been fortunate to receive significant support from key individuals. This hugely generous gift from The Reuben Foundation represents another chapter in this history of philanthropy and will have a profound impact on the thousands of children suffering from cancer who are referred to us from London and across the country.
We are proud of our world class cancer programme, both in terms of the treatment we offer and our research to find new cures for childhood sufferers. The generosity of the Reuben Family will enable us to provide our patients and staff with the best facilities to treat their condition.""
The Reuben Foundation described the donation to Great Ormond Street as "one of the most important contributions we could make, although whilst our support will help towards the construction of the new centre, the hospital requires further support for children suffering with cancer. It is our hope that support from others will follow".