How we help

Friends of ANCHOR has delivered direct support to the patients and staff since 1997.

The ANCHOR Unit is a collective of specialised wards and clinics within Aberdeen Royal Infirmary - the central hub of cancer and haematology care for the North-east of Scotland.

Our person-centred wellbeing services are freely available for every patient, with programmes also available for the staff caring for them. We invest in medical equipment and pioneering research to push the boundaries in how we diagnose, treat and care for people, while our pledge to promote clinical excellence includes funded development programmes for NHS clinical staff to enhance knowledge and expertise.

Our founding aim was, and remains to this day, to provide the best possible treatment, care and support to patients.

Uniquely, every penny of every pound donated to Friends of ANCHOR goes to the cause because our operating costs are fully covered by Aberdeen company Balmoral Group - as they have been since the charity was founded.

Watch our interview with Radiotherapy Manager Nicola Redgwell to find out how we've been able to support ANCHOR Unit patients and staff, thanks to your donations and fundraising. You can also read on to find out more about some of our investments and initiatives.

Pioneering research

Partnering with the University of Aberdeen to fund pioneering research to improve understanding of the cause, develop the care and discover treatment breakthroughs.

An annual commitment of up to
0
to fund multiple pilot research projects that play a critical role in the future of cancer management, allowing scientists to build compelling cases for major funding. Studies like these form the building blocks of future breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment.
Research
Research
Our clinical fellowships are granted for a period of up to
0
to support fellows through their research endeavours
Since 2010, we've invested almost
0
into pilot research projects that expand the boundaries of what we know about cancer and haematology diseases.
Kirsten Laws

Medical equipment

Investing in leading technologies and equipment, over and above the NHS core budget, to ensure Aberdeen as a leading hospital for cancer and haematology care.

The continued support of the latest diagnostic equipment including a spend totalling
0
for the Head and Neck Clinic in funding endoscopes and laryngoscopes
Equipment laryngsoscope
Equipment - Nuclear medicine
Nuclear Medicine investment brought a first for Scotland last year with funding totalling over
0
to equip the department with a radiopharmaceutical dose administration system for more effective cancer diagnosis and treatment
Supporting the Gastroenterology department to the tune of
0
for advanced diagnosis and treatment for patients with upper intestinal cancers
Equipment

Person-centred wellbeing

Enhancing person-centred wellbeing for patients and staff through dedicated support and services, including specialised massage therapies, mindfulness and hair loss support.

Specialist wellbeing services and provision totalling an average of
0
per year, completely free to ANCHOR patients.
Wellbeing
Wellbeing
Friends of ANCHOR Wellbeing team
Over the past five years alone, we've invested
0
into our patient wellbeing services and provisions.
Wellbeing
Wellbeing

Clinical excellence

Driving forward clinical excellence for NHS staff with funded development programmes and training opportunities to enhance knowledge and expertise.

A yearly commitment of around
0
for our Clinical Nurse Scholarship programme which enhances skills, knowledge and expertise.
Equipment laryngsoscope

The Friends of ANCHOR committee

The committee is comprised of senior representatives from the ANCHOR Unit wards and clinics, and the business community

Committee member
Sir James S Milne
CBE, DL, DHC, Hon DBA, Hon FRIAS
Chairman & Trustee
Committee member
Louise Bennett
Senior Charge Nurse
ANCHOR ODT Department
Committee member
Caty Smith
Interim Nurse Manager
Haematology & Oncology
Committee member
Steve Gibb
Public Relations Manager
Balmoral Group
Committee member
Prof. Michael Greaves
Retired Professor of Haematology and Honorary Clinical Haematologist
Committee member
Dr Andy Hutcheon
Retired Oncologist,
Vice Chairman & Trustee
Committee member
Sarah-Jane Hogg
Director, Friends of ANCHOR & Trustee
Committee member
Dr Al Lawrie
Consultant
Haematologist
Committee member
Bill Main
Balmoral Group Financial
Director & Trustee
Committee member
Prof. Henry Watson
Consultant Haematologist,
Haemophilia Centre Director & Trustee
Committee member
Danny Lynch
Senior Charge Nurse, ANCHOR ODT Department
Committee member
Nicola Redgwell
Radiotherapy Manager, ARI
Committee member
Dr Judy Grant 
Consultant Oncologist
Committee member
Sharon Smith
Senior Charge Nurse, Ward 114
Committee member
Elizabeth Watt
Senior Charge Nurse, Ward 112
Committee member
Stephanie Bruce
Consultant Haematologist
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