Work begins again on Maggie's

Last month it was put on hold after the company building the new facility went into administration.

News that The Dunne Group had ceased trading left a question mark over when the development would be completed.

But this week the Maggie’s charity announced work had resumed on the project in the grounds of Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert.

The new builder is the Sir Robert McAlpine group.

It is hoped that the centre, which will provide support and advice for cancer sufferers and their families, will open later this year.

A spokesperson said: “Maggie’s is delighted to announce that we have appointed Sir Robert McAlpine to complete work on our new centre at the Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, taking over from The Dunne Group who went into administration last month.

“Thanks to the swift transfer to Sir Robert McAlpine we anticipate any delays to the completion of the project to be kept to a minimum and look forward to seeing Maggie’s Forth Valley opening its doors to welcome people with cancer, as well as their family and friends, across the Forth Valley area later this year.”

Over 500 jobs, the majority of them in Scotland, were lost when The Dunne Group folded.

Chief executive Gordon Dunne, who lives in Falkirk, had been at the groundbreaking ceremony in March last year.

His company had already built the Maggie’s Centre at Gartnaval Hospital, Glasgow in 2011. It was also involved in the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Maggie Keswick Jencks drew up the blueprints for the original Maggie’s in Edinburgh in the months running up to her death in 1995. Laura Lee, Maggie’s cancer nurse and who is now the charity’s chief executive, worked with Maggie’s family to ensure her vision became a reality. The Centre opened in November 1996 and the Larbert facility will be the 20th to open in 20 years.

Built in the grounds of specialist NHS hospitals, Maggie’s Centres are warm and welcoming places, with qualified professionals on hand to offer an evidence-based programme of support that has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing.

Laura said: “Maggie would be astounded to think how quickly we have grown, but possibly not surprised to discover how her pioneering approach to cancer care has been welcomed and embraced by so many people affected by cancer.”