13 October 2010 Last updated at 08:22 ET

London cancer centre gets 'record' £10m donation

A project to build the UK's most advanced cancer centre has received a record £10m donation.

Cancer charity Macmillan Cancer Support donated the funds to help build University College Hospital (UCH) Macmillan Cancer Centre.

The £100m building in central London, which the NHS says will "redefine the way patients are treated", is due to open in 2012.

The centre needs another £10m in donations.

Macmillan predominantly relies on donations from members of the public and fundraising event for its income generation.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who visited the site of the centre, said: "We must up our game in order to save many more lives and achieve cancer survival rates amongst the best in the world.

"This new centre at UCLH is very exciting and I look forward to seeing our patients benefit."

Macmillan Director Steve Richards said: "This partnership will ensure the patients' needs are met holistically from the beginning, throughout and beyond their treatment."

Sir Robert Naylor, UCLH chief executive, said the donation was "an incredibly exciting milestone".