THE opening of a world-class £5.92m urology centre at Royal Surrey County Hospital has taken a big step forwards.

Professor Stephen Langley, clinical director of urology, was presented with the keys to the building to mark the completion of the project’s construction phase.

Charitable donations of more than £2.5m from Guildford-based Prostate Project, have made the ground-breaking facility possible.

Royal Surrey is already known as a centre of excellence for prostate cancer, treating more men with early disease than any other hospital in the UK.

Using the very latest techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of urological conditions, this new centre will allow patients to be seen and investigated more quickly with new one-stop clinics for those with suspected of prostate or bladder cancer.

Louise Stead, Royal Surrey’s chief executive, said: “We have always provided the highest standards of care and outcomes, but this new facility will help us to achieve even more for our patients. The opportunity for collaborative working, research and more efficient treatment pathways is significant.”

Professor Langley added: “While the clinical outcomes of our robotic surgery and brachytherapy are amongst the very best in the world, we now have a world class centre in which to treat our patients.

“What makes this centre so special is that it would not have been possible without the generosity of so many local people. To bring such an ambitious project to life I knew would take something special and the Prostate Project was just what we needed.”

The centre will be named after Prostate Project founder, Godalming man Colin Stokes MBE.

Tim Sharp, president of Prostate Project said: “We are all so proud of this achievement. Our success at raising this enormous amount of money is entirely due to the generosity of our supporters many of whom have been giving to us regularly for years.

“It is a wonderful demonstration of how a community can come together with the NHS to deliver truly world-class result.”