SURE project set to get underway at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Published: 04/12/2025 11:37
NHS Grampian, working with local charities UCAN and Friends of ANCHOR, is about to begin work on a Swift Urological Response Evaluation unit. Known as SURE for short, this facility will be a one-stop diagnostic centre for people with symptoms of urological cancers. The SURE Unit, formerly the Rapid Diagnostic Centre (RDC), will enable more people with suspected urological cancer to be seen quicker, and to have all their scans and diagnostic tests carried out during a single visit to hospital. 
 
SURE 1
Kenny Anderson (UCAN Chief Executive), Justine Royle (ARI Consultant Urologist and UCAN Chair), Erica Banks, (Head of Communications, Friends of ANCHOR), Sarah-Jane Hogg (Friends of ANCHOR Chief Executive), Derrick Murray (non-executive board member, NHS Grampian) and Manju Patel (Head of Projects, NHS Grampian). Photo via Richard Frew Photography.
 
Local urological cancer charity UCAN have teamed up with Friends of ANCHOR to contribute £3.3M towards the project. The ambition is to create a centre of excellence which will double the current capacity to treat people with prostate, penis, testicular, bladder, and kidney cancer. 
 
Alan Wilson, NHS Grampian Director of Infrastructure, Sustainability & Support Services, said: “This is a hugely exciting and positive development, and I am delighted we are almost ready to begin work. The support of UCAN and Friends of ANCHOR, two significant charity partners, is vital in ensuring we can provide the best facility possible.” 
 
The SURE unit will be situated in the Yellow Zone of ARI, in easy reach of the multi-storey car park at Foresterhill, with refurbishment work expected to begin in a matter of weeks. The unit is projected for completion during June 2026. As well as benefiting people in Grampian, those requiring treatment from Orkney and Shetland will also be seen there. 
 
Justine Royle, UCAN Chair and Consultant Urologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary said: “The SURE Unit will be transformational in how we diagnose and treat urology patients, reducing anxiety and improving outcomes.” 
 
Kenny Anderson, UCAN Chief Executive, added: “Everyone at UCAN is delighted the unique cooperation between NHS Grampian, Friends of Anchor and UCAN will deliver this ambitious initiative for urology patients across the North and North East of Scotland only made possible by numerous donors to both charities including very generous support from the Suttie Foundation” 
Sarah-Jane Hogg, Chief Executive at Friends of ANCHOR, said: “Right now, there are a significant number of people throughout our region who have to travel from far afield, often on numerous occasions, to meet all the various appointments that are involved in obtaining a diagnosis for their urological symptoms. 
 
“The SURE Unit, which will be created thanks to this unique partnership between UCAN and Friends of ANCHOR, will reduce travel to just one appointment for a large number of those people, instead of four of five visits – in turn reducing anxiety-inducing waiting times from as long six months to just a few weeks.” 
 
OCS have been appointed at the contractor for these works.  
 
Alan Wilson added: “We are taking the opportunity to carry out some backlog maintenance in this part of ARI at the same time. This work will improve the existing infrastructure throughout this part of the hospital. It will run alongside the SURE unit development but is funded solely by NHS Grampian.”