PATIENTS at the long-awaited new radiotherapy centre at Worcestershire Royal Hospital will be helped through their treatment surrounded by a series of peaceful and serene images of the city.

A set of picturesque photographs from Worcester’s Cripplegate Park will be on display throughout the centre, which is due to open at the end of the year after years of planning and preparation.

The images feature the black pear tree – an iconic image of Worcester – and were chosen by Worcestershire Acute Hospital’s NHS Trust cancer manager and Macmillan lead cancer nurse Anne Sullivan, who said she hoped a welcoming environment would help patients in their recovery.

“Hospitals, and especially radiotherapy units, are characterised by the presence of large machines and equipment that can seem strange and impersonal to patients,” she said.

“All former patients that I spoke to wanted a light airy environment and contact with the outside environment - especially nature views - to help their well-being.”

She added she was especially grateful to design manager at Worcester-based Project Vita Joe Everley and colleague Matti Rogers as well as director of facilities at Bromsgrove’s North East Worcestershire College Richard Gilbert, who gave up their time for free to develop the artwork.

“We are so grateful to Richard, Joe and Matti for the work that they have done for us and the initial concepts have been given the thumbs up by our patient representatives,” she said.

“We are really excited to see the finished works of art in their new home.”

The trust’s lead cancer clinician Adel Makar said it seemed appropriate to use the black pear tree as the symbol of the centre

“Trees also represent life, which fits nicely with the function of the building,” he said.

The first of the centre’s three linear accelerators – machines which deliver radiotherapy treatment – will be delivered at the end of this month, while the other two will arrive in May.

It is estimated the new centre will save people in Worcestershire suffering from cancer about one million miles of travel every year.