Construction begins on new £3.5m Cancer Support Centre at Antrim Area Hospital

Paddy Graffin, Northern Trust Director of Infrastructure, Lynne McCartney, Northern Trust Interim Director for Surgery and Clinical Services, Mike Nesbitt, Health Minister, Jane Hughes, Programme Lead, Implementation Team with Macmillan Cancer Support, and Peter Carson, Director MSM Contracts Ltd, pictured at the site of the new Macmillan Information and Support Centre at Antrim Area Hospital. 

A major new support facility for people living with cancer is now under construction at Antrim Area Hospital, marking a significant step forward in how patients and families across the Northern Trust area will access care, advice and emotional support.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visited the hospital this week to see progress on the new Macmillan Information and Support Centre, a £3.5 million project expected to open in spring 2027.

Once complete, the centre will provide dedicated support services for people affected by cancer, including tailored assistance for young people who have received a diagnosis themselves or who are supporting a family member through treatment.

During the visit, the Minister met staff from Macmillan Cancer Support and the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, as well as representatives from construction partner MSM Contracts Ltd. He was shown plans for the new facility, which will include a welcoming lounge and information hub, therapy rooms, quiet spaces, a family room, group facilities and workspace for healthcare professionals.

The design also places strong emphasis on recovery and wellbeing. Plans include landscaped outdoor areas featuring a walled garden, sunken courtyard and terrace, intended to offer patients a calm environment and a sense of escapism following treatment.

The project is being funded through a partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support, which is contributing £2.5 million, and the Northern Trust, which is providing £1 million.

Speaking during the visit, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said:

“I am pleased to see construction started on the new centre, which focuses on developing a localised, community-based support services for the benefit of cancer patients and their families.

“The collaborative partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support and the Northern Trust is a shining example of what can be achieved when we work together, ensuring that resources are maximised, expertise is shared and patients receive the very best care.”

Paddy Graffin, Director of Infrastructure at the Northern Trust, said the start of construction marks an important milestone for the project.

“Construction of the new Macmillan Information and Support Centre got underway last month so we were very pleased to welcome Health Minister Nesbitt to the site today.

“The centre is much more than a building - it will give patients, families and staff a space that supports compassionate care. We are immensely proud of the partnerships that have brought us to this point and look forward to opening the doors in 2027.”

The new centre will also bring the Northern Trust into line with other health trusts across Northern Ireland, where similar dedicated cancer support facilities are already established at acute hospital sites.

Lynne McCartney, Interim Director for Surgery and Clinical Services with the Northern Trust, said the development will expand the Trust’s ability to support patients beyond clinical treatment.

“We are delighted that construction of the new much-needed Information and Support Centre has now commenced. When construction is complete, we will be in line with the other Trusts in the region, where similar dedicated support units are already established at their acute hospital sites.

“It will give us more room to provide vital emotional, practical, and wellbeing support, and its location, close to both Laurel House chemotherapy unit and the Macmillan Palliative Care unit means it is accessible for those who need it.

“On behalf of the Trust, I want to reiterate our appreciation to Macmillan Cancer Support and all the donors who have made this project possible.”

Macmillan Cancer Support said the centre has only been made possible thanks to the generosity of supporters and donors.

Jane Hughes, Programme Lead with the Macmillan Cancer Support Implementation Team, said:

“We’re hugely proud to be partnering with the Northern Trust on the new Macmillan Information and Support Centre at Antrim Area Hospital - a development that has only been made possible through the tireless generosity of our supporters.

“Macmillan is committed to making sure everyone with cancer can get the best possible care and support, and the new centre will offer the dedicated space that people living with cancer and their families so desperately need. We can’t wait for the site to open in 2027 and we hope it will make a very real difference to the lives of people living with cancer in the local area.”

With construction now underway, the new centre aims to create a welcoming, supportive environment where patients and families can access practical help, emotional support and trusted information throughout their cancer journey.

At a glance

• Construction has started on a £3.5 million Macmillan Information and Support Centre at Antrim Area Hospital.

• The facility is expected to open in spring 2027 and will serve cancer patients and families across the Northern Trust area.

• The project is funded through a partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support (£2.5m) and the Northern Trust (£1m).

• The building will include therapy rooms, quiet spaces, family areas, a group room and a lounge-style information hub.

• Outdoor spaces such as a walled garden, courtyard and terrace are being designed to support patient wellbeing after treatment.

• The centre will also provide dedicated support for young people affected by cancer.

• The development will bring the Northern Trust in line with other health trusts that already have dedicated cancer support units at hospital sites.