Ready, steady, let's get silly!

LIVERPOOL'S Libraries may still be closed but that isn't stopping them from encouraging our youngest residents to pick up a book. Since Friday, 5 June 2020, the City's Libraries have been backing the Reading Agency's annual Summer Reading Challenge; which is going digital for 2020 and is aimed at children aged 4 to 11. Although usually taking place in the summer holidays to encourage children to keep reading during the long break, this year's challenge has been brought forward to support children who are still being home Schooled. Families are invited to a virtual party on Friday, 5 June 2020, to launch the challenge on the Summer Reading Challenge's Facebook Page; from 4pm to 7pm. The launch party's schedule includes CBBC's Sam & Mark, David Baddiel and Konnie Huq. To complete the Summer Reading Challenge children will set their own reading targets with 6 books being the suggested number to aim for. And youngsters needn't worry if they've read everything at home; there are hundreds of books to borrow from Liverpool's digital Library. Visit:- ReadLiverpool.Co.UK to quickly sign up. Compared to May 2019, loans of children's books from the digital Library last month were 10 times higher! Children are being encouraged to keep track of what they're reading by setting up a Reading Agency Passport account. Parents or guardians will need to confirm children's online accounts. This year's challenge is led by the Silly Squad; a team of animals who love to go on adventures and get stuck in to all different kinds of funny books who have been designed by award winning author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson. The challenge runs until September 2020 and it is free to take part. In 2019 over 700,000 children got involved, and it has been running each year since 1999! 2020 is Liverpool's Year of Reading and The Reading Agency supported the programme's launch in January. Search #LiverpoolReads on social media and also join the Facebook Group.

Said Cllr Barbara Murray, cabinet member for education, employment and skills and the city's lead for #LiverpoolReads:- "The Summer Reading Challenge has now become a real tradition in our Libraries and as always it has the full support of Liverpool and our incredible Library team. There's no reason despite the current challenges that it can't be as successful as previous years. We know that our digital collection of books has seen a massive increase in borrowing and we've been adding plenty of new titles. It's also great to hear that the Reading Agency has found that 45% of young people have been reading more in lockdown. I encourage all our children to get their heads in a book, get online and log their 6 books; or more, to complete the challenge!"

Hayley Butler, head of communications at the Reading Agency said:- "We are excited to be going live with the digital Summer Reading Challenge this Friday. The Summer Reading Challenge which is delivered in partnership with public Libraries, is an invaluable tool to help young people across the UK avoid the 'dip' and maintain their literacy skills over the summer ahead of the new School year. The Silly Squad theme is just what families need this summer. Children will be able to access the free digital platform to complete this year's challenge with digital rewards and incentives and a whole host of silly reading recommendations; it will be a seriously silly summer!"

NHS receives the keys to major new Cancer Centre

THE keys to Cheshire and Merseyside's major new specialist cancer Hospital in Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter have officially been handed over to the NHS, following the completion of construction. Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Liverpool, which opens to patients, on Saturday, 27 June 2020, is part of a ₤162m investment in expanding and enhancing care for the 2.4 million people living in a Region that has 1 of the highest rates of cancer nationally. Laing O'Rourke, the lead contractor for the project, has now handed the building over to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust which will run the Hospital, as well as its existing sites in Wirral and Aintree and its extensive network of Clinics across Cheshire and Merseyside. The 11 storey, 110 bed Hospital will deliver a wide range of highly specialist cancer care including:- pioneering chemotherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy and radiotherapy. It has state of the art facilities for bone marrow transplant, diagnostics and imaging, outpatients, day case treatments, a Teenage and Young Adult Unit, Clinical therapies, and a wide range of cancer information and support. The Chemotherapy suite and inpatient wards boast spectacular views across the City and across to the Wirral peninsula, with terraces where patients can enjoy some fresh air. There is also a Winter Garden off the Radiotherapy department. The Hospital has also been designed to ensure patients have plenty of privacy and space, and can be personalised to individual needs. For example, every inpatient will have their own single en-suite room, further reducing any risk of infection. Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Liverpool, was designed by leading architects BDP with AECOM providing all design engineering. Laing O'Rourke was the main contractor. Construction on the project started in early 2017, after initial site work in late 2016.

Dr Liz Bishop, Chief Executive of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, said:- "Getting the keys is a huge milestone because it marks the end of construction on Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, in Liverpool. Our staff are now making the final preparations for opening on 27 June 2020 and we are all very excited about the benefits it will bring for cancer care in Cheshire and Merseyside. It is a significant expansion of cancer services, in addition to services at our Wirral and Aintree sites and our network of Clinics across the Region."

Paul McNerney, Director of UK Building at Laing O'Rourke, said:- "Our team of healthcare specialists have handed over a world class Hospital to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and we wish the staff the very best as they move in and prepare to provide vital services. Our engineering expertise and innovation in healthcare delivery has previously seen us construct Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Aintree, as well as Alder Hey Children's Hospital and with a team currently delivering the new Royal, we are proud of our track record in Liverpool. Our track record relies on being a partner trusted to deliver and a large part of that comes from driving innovation, using modern methods of construction. For Clatterbridge, we built the Hospital virtually, in a digital model before any on site work began. This meant that we could design large elements of the building to precise specifications, manufacture them off site and then assemble them on site minimising disruption to neighbours and to the adjacent Royal. It also meant we could employ apprentices and equip them with skills that will be needed for a digital and automated construction sector of the future."

The project's lead architect is Ged Couser, Architect Principal, BDP, who says:- "This highly glazed building will become a beacon for cancer care in Liverpool and the wider Region. Its modern sophisticated external skin is a clear expression of the cutting edge research and care taking place within. Even in its tight urban context the internal spaces will have access to high quality external landscape, recognising the therapeutic value this brings to patients."

AECOM UK and Ireland Healthcare and Science Sector Leader Richard Mann, who was the Project Director, said:- "The AECOM building engineering team is proud to have worked with the Trust from the initial design stage through to handover. The result of our work is a light and airy, energy efficient and sustainable building, designed to put the wellbeing of patients and NHS staff 1st."

Patients at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre will be informed which Hospital they should attend for treatment.

Background and further information:-

► The idea of developing a specialist cancer Hospital in the heart of Liverpool was 1st proposed in the Baker Cannon report of 2008, which recommended sweeping changes to cancer care in Cheshire and Merseyside.

► NHS commissioners agreed to it in principle in 2012. Formal public consultation took place in 2014, preparatory work began on site in 2016 following approval of a full business case, and formal construction of the 11 storey Hospital began in 2017.

► It has been designed by leading architects BDP with AECOM providing all design engineering services. Laing O'Rourke is the main contractor for construction.

► Being located in Liverpool will have 5 main benefits over the current main site:-

1. It is more centrally located for people across Cheshire and Merseyside, significantly reducing journey times for those who live north of the Mersey.

2. The most complex and seriously unwell patients will benefit from rapid on site access to key medical and surgical specialties in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

3. Bringing cancer experts from the NHS and the University together on the same site will significantly enhance opportunities for leading edge cancer research.

4. Every inpatient will have their own individual room, reducing the risk of infection.

5. The new Hospital unites treatment for blood cancers and solid tumours for the 1st time.