Robert’s legacy has funded innovative services and projects that are now benefiting people with cancer throughout Dorset through the Robert White Legacy Fund.

Amongst these was the creation of the Robert White Cancer Centre in Dorchester, which has enabled the delivery of radiotherapy closer to the homes of those in the west of the county for the first time. In addition, doctors and nurses have been appointed to a series of posts that have enhanced research and treatment for patients in Dorset and the wider Wessex region and new services such as a state of the art laryngology service, brachytherapy and endoscopic ultrasound have been introduced.

Consultant oncologist at University Hospitals Dorset, Dr Mike Bayne, said:

“Five years ago I had the enormous privilege of treating Robert White for metastatic neuroendocrine cancer.

“Robert was a strong personality and left a powerful mark on all who met him.

“Before he died he took the exceptional step of leaving most of his considerable assets to Poole Hospital as a legacy that has enabled us to set up the Robert White Legacy Fund.”

Most recently Robert’s legacy has supported the purchase of surface guided radiotherapy equipment in the radiotherapy department, which will transform work flows in radiotherapy and allow a leap forward in the radiotherapy techniques the trust is able to deliver.

Head of therapy radiography at University Hospitals Dorset, David Frost, said:

“Without this amazing legacy Poole Hospital would not have been able to purchase surface guided radiotherapy technology (SGRT) allowing University Hospitals Dorset to become one of the first radiotherapy centres in the south west to offer this facility.”

The new treatment option will enable the UHD radiotherapy department to achieve its vision and become a centre of excellence providing the best and safest treatment for the population of Dorset and beyond.

Surface guided radiotherapy is a system that tracks the patient’s position before and during radiotherapy, helping to ensure accuracy of treatment delivery and streamlines workflows. Further developments will change practice so that patients don’t need permanent marks and can have open faced masks which will remove some of the psychological impact of having radiotherapy.

Robert’s legacy, has also supported the trust in acquiring an automatic patient ID solution. This improves patient safety, ensuring that the right patient gets the right treatment with the correct treatment accessories.

If you would like to support the work of the hospitals in helping patients with cancer in the future then you can donate here: https://uhdcharity.org/index.php/donate