CLAN Haven, based on Westburn Road in Aberdeen, has been closed for a number of weeks to enable staff to reconfigure the accommodation to comply with social distancing guidelines.

The accommodation is primarily used by people travelling from a distance to access cancer treatment at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, in particular those coming from Orkney, Shetland and the Highlands.

CLAN Haven offers comfortable individual and family en-suite rooms, representing a home-like environment for those attending the hospital for appointments, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

With treatments often lasting weeks or months, guests at CLAN Haven regularly stay for long periods. The accommodation also features a large lounge, spacious kitchen area and a well maintained and attractive sensory garden.

Each room is now equipped with a microwave, fridge and eating area, which  minimises the need for guests to share facilities and enables those guest who are required to shield to do so effectively while staying in the Haven.

While the lounge remains closed, the kitchen and laundry will be available on a rota basis and the beautiful sensory garden provides a space for guests to relax and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.

The Haven has undergone a deep-clean and an enhanced cleaning schedule has been introduced to ensure that robust infection prevention and control measures are maintained.

Iona Mitchell, CLAN’s Head of Cancer Support Services, said:

“CLAN Haven is incredibly important to people and their families who are travelling to Aberdeen for cancer treatment, and even more important during this challenging time. We are delighted to be able to re-open and welcome clients to stay with us.

“The safety of our clients is our upmost priority and we have exponentially reinforced the existing safety measures in place during our temporary closure.

“We are also continuing to offer our clients transport to the hospital with our minibus service, which helps them safely attend treatment and alleviates the stress getting to their appointments.

“The CLAN Haven is a lifeline to so many at what is already an extremely challenging time, and the need for safe and trusted accommodation for cancer patients has never been higher.

“This is the first step in reopening CLAN’s services and centres to our clients and we look forward to relaunch more physical services in the coming weeks.”

CLAN Haven can be contacted on 01224 647000. 

The demand for CLAN’s services has remained high during the current outbreak of Covid-19, which is why it has launched the Here for You Appeal, encouraging you to give £10 or whatever you can, to allow CLAN to continue supporting people coping with a cancer diagnosis. Donate today by visiting www.clanhouse.org

CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort, support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer. CLAN aims to support people to reduce anxiety, stress and to increase their ability to cope with the effects of a serious illness.

Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of north-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland. CLAN has a presence in Ballater, Banchory, Buckie, Crimond, Elgin, Buckie, Inverurie, Lossiemouth, Turriff, Kirkwall and Lerwick.