Macmillan Quality Environment Mark
The MQEM award recognises and celebrates environments that meet the standards required by people living with cancer. Find out how it works and how to apply.
What is the MQEM award?
The MQEM award champions cancer environments that go above and beyond to create welcoming and friendly spaces for patients. MQEM is the first award of its kind in the UK and has been designed in collaboration with people living with cancer.
We also collaborated with stakeholders, including the Department of Health, to ensure the MQEM award criteria is evidence-based and recognised by regulatory bodies including the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England.
Whether you work in a hospital, hospice or Information and Support Centre, we'll help you create a more welcoming space for people living with cancer.
Who can apply for the award?
The award is open to NHS and non-NHS providers including independent private healthcare sector and charities.
To be eligible, any organisation must be able to demonstrate that 80% of the services or the support being given are aimed at people affected by cancer.
The award is externally assessed by an independent quality assurance agency and renewed every three years thereafter.
What does MQEM assess?
MQEM assesses four main areas of a cancer service or environment:
-
Design and use of space
Including clear wayfinding for visitors, welcoming and ascetically pleasing reception and waiting areas, and access to private consultation rooms.
-
User’s journey
For example, the cost and availability of parking, how easy it is to get to the facility on public transport, internal facility signposting and flexibility in making appointments.
-
Service experience
This includes access to cancer-specific information and access to health professionals, choice and range of food available, cleanliness and tidiness of facility.
-
User’s voice
Tthe level at which users are involved in the development of services, and how important people’s views are taken into account.
The assessment includes an on-site visit by a professional assessor and a volunteer assessor who has been affected by cancer. The visit can last most of the day depending on the size of the facility being assessed. A detailed report is written and shared with the organisation after the assessment with recommendations for improvements.
Successfully assessed organisations are awarded a plaque to display to the public. Organisations that do not meet the assessment criteria are offered expertise and guidance to help them improve before your environment is reassessed.
What is a successful environment?
A successful MQEM environment is:
- welcoming and accessible to all
- respectful of people's privacy and dignity
- supportive of the users' comfort and well-being
- gives choice and control to people using your service
- listens to the voice of the user.
Services that reach the MQEM standard are awarded it for three years. We offer ongoing advice and support during this time to make sure the physical environment of the service continues to improve for the people who use it.
How can my service apply?
There is a three-step process for applying for the MQEM standard.
-
Download and read the MQEM assessment handbook
We've created an MQEM handbook to help you find out if your service can apply. - Complete the MQEM self-assessment tool
This will help you to understand how well your service meets the MQEM standard. If a Macmillan Partnership Quality Lead (PQL) has not already given you this tool, you can request a copy by emailing mqem@macmillan.org.uk. - Apply for external assessment
You can do this if your self-assessment score is 4 or above (pass level).
Award-winning environments
You can find out which environments hold the MQEM award below.
-
View our award-winning environments
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (Ward 44)
Aintree Hospital, Liverpool (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre (Elective Care Centre)
Aintree Hospital, Liverpool (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre (Main Reception)
Aintree Hospital, Liverpool (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre (Marina Dalglish Unit)
Altnagelvin (Macmillan Support Centre)
Arbroath Infirmary (Macmillan Day Care Unit)
Aspen Healthcare, Cancer Centre London, Clinical Services
Aspen Healthcare, Parkside Hospital, Oncology Ward
Aspen Healthcare, The Holly Private Hospital, Buckhurst Hill, London
Bamford Suite, Nuffield Health, Derby Hospital (Chemotherapy Day Services)
Barry Hospital (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Barts Health NHS Trust, London (Radiotherapy Department)
Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow
Beaumond House Community Hospice, Newark (Resource and Information Centre)
Bedford Hospital (Macmillan Primrose Unit)
Belfast City Hospital (Macmillan Support and Information Centre)
Bishop Auckland Hospital (Macmillan Information & Support Centre)
Blythe House Hospice, Chapel-en-le-Frith
BMI Healthcare, Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle (Women's Health)
BMI Healthcare, Basingstoke, Enbourne Ward (The Hampshire Clinic)
BMI Healthcare, Bath Clinic (Oncology Suite)
BMI Healthcare, Bishops Wood Hospital, Northwood, London
BMI Healthcare, Chelsfield Park Hospital, Orpington
BMI Healthcare, Fawkham Manor Hospital, Longfield (Monro Suite)
BMI Healthcare, Goring Hall Hospital, Goring-by-Sea
BMI Healthcare, Kensington Cancer Centre, The Princess Margaret Hospital, Windsor
BMI Healthcare, Mount Alvernia Hospital, Guildford (St Martha Oncology Centre)
BMI Healthcare, Poole Cancer Care Centre (The Harbour Hospital)
BMI Healthcare, Ross Hall Hospital, Glasgow (Oncology Unit)
BMI Healthcare, Sarum Road Hospital, Winchester (Mulberry Oncology Suite)
BMI Healthcare, The Beardwood Hospital, Blackburn (North West Cancer Clinic)
BMI Healthcare, The Blackheath Hospital, London
BMI Healthcare, The Chaucer Hospital, Canterbury
BMI Healthcare, The Chiltern Hospital, Great Missenden (The Misbourne Suite)
BMI Healthcare, The Clementine Churchill Hospital, Harrow
BMI Healthcare, The Park Hospital, Nottingham
BMI Healthcare, The Priory Hospital, Birmingham (Dudley Suite and Highbury Suite)
BMI Healthcare, Thornbury Hospital, Sheffield
BMI Healthcare, Three Shires Hospital, Northampton (Oncology Suite)
Bolton Hospice (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service)
Bolton Macmillan Information & Support Centre
Borders General Hospital, Melrose (Information Centre)
Borders General Hospital, Melrose (Macmillan CT & MRI Department)
Borders General Hospital, Melrose (Margaret Kerr Unit)
Calderdale Royal Hospital, The Jayne Garforth Macmillan Information Centre
Campbeltown Hospital (Day Services / Inpatient Services)
Cancer Centre, Wimbledon, London
Cancer Drop-in Centre (Riverside Day Centre), Newton Stewart
Charis Cancer Care, Cookstown, Belfast
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London (The Macmillan Centre)
Cheltenham General Hospital, Hereford Radiotherapy Satellite, Gloucestershire Oncology Centre
Chesterfield Royal Hospital (NGS Macmillan Unit)
Churchill Hospital, Oxford (Blenheim Head and Neck Unit)
Cicely Saunders Institute, Kings College Hospital, London (Macmillan Information & Support Centre)
City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Sunderland (Macmillan Support Centre)
Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Bebington (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Community Service Station, Southport (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Countess of Chester Hospital (Haematology & Oncology Day Unit)
Countess of Chester Hospital (Macmillan Support and Information Centre)
Countess of Chester Hospital (Ward 43, Meadows Ward)
County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust, Peterlee (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
County Hospital, Hereford (Macmillan Renton Unit)
Craigavon Area Hospital, Portadown (Day Services, Macmillan Building)
Craigavon Area Hospital, Portadown, NI (Macmillan Information)
Crawley Hospital, West Sussex (The Olive Tree Cancer Support Centre)
Croydon University Hospital (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre)
Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford (Pine Therapy Unit)
Dimbleby Macmillan Support Centre, Guy's Cancer at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup
Dumfries Royal Infirmary (Macmillan Centre)
East and North Herts NHS Trust, Northwood (Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre)
East Cheshire NHS Trust, Macclesfield (Macmillan Cancer Resource Centre)
East Surrey Hospital (Macmillan Cancer Support Centre) Redhill
Elgin (The Oaks Palliative Care Day Centre)
Epsom Hospital (Macmillan Butterfly Centre)
Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Larbert (Oncology Department)
Friarage hospital, Northallerton (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Galloway Community Hospital, Stranraer (Cancer Drop-in Centre)
GenesisCare, Cambridge
GenesisCare, Chelmsford
GenesisCare, Elstree
GenesisCare, Guildford
GenesisCare, Havant
GenesisCare, Little Aston Cancer Centre, Sutton Coldfield
GenesisCare, Maidstone
GenesisCare, Milton Keynes
GenesisCare, Nottingham
GenesisCare, Oxford
GenesisCare, Windsor
George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Giles House at Bolton Hospice (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Services)
Haematology and Oncology Day Unit, Peterborough
Harrogate and District NHS Trust, Harrogate (The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre)
HCA Healthcare UK, Inpatient Service, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Manchester
HCA Healthcare UK, Oncology Unit and Oncology Ward, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London Bridge Hospital
HCA Healthcare UK, Outpatient and Day Service, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Manchester
Hereford County Hospital, Radiotherapy Unit
Hereford, Yeleni Therapy and Support
Heatherwood and Wexham Park NHS Trust, Slough (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Hinchingbrooke NHS Trust, Huntingdon (Woodlands Centre)
HMP Frankland, Durham (Nova Suite)
HMP Holme House, Stockton on Tees (Pallium Suite)
HMP Wakefield (Hospital Wing)
Hull & East Yorkshire Hospital NHS Trust, Cottingham (The Queen’s Centre for Oncology & Haematology)
Ipswich, The Woolverstone Macmillan Centre
Ipswich Hospital (Radiotherapy Department)
Kingston Hospital, Surrey (Sir William Rous Unit)
Launton, The Hummingbird Cancer Support & Therapy Centre
Lawson Memorial Hospital, NHS Highland, Golspie, (Cambusavie Unit)
Leeds Cancer Centre, St James’s University Hospital (Chemotherapy Day Services)
Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre)
Leicester Royal Infirmary (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Leighton Hospital, Crewe (Macmillan Cancer Resource Centre)
Lister Hospital, Stevenage (Macmillan Cancer Centre)
Llandough University Hospital (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
London Bridge Hospital (Oncology Services)
London Charing Cross Hospital (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
London, Princess Grace Hospital (Oncology Ward Inpatient Services)
Lorn and Islands Hospital, Oban (Macmillan Day Bed Unit)
Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Luton (Macmillan Cancer Unit)
Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre, Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Macmillan Information and NHS Bereavement Service, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Maidstone Hospital (Kent Oncology Centre)
Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham (Macmillan Cancer Care Unit)
Merthyr Tydfil (Cancer Aid)
Mid Argyll Community Hospital, Lochgilphead (Macmillan Day Suite & The Dunadd Room)
Migdale Hospital, NHS Highland, Bonar Bridge, (Kylesku Ward)
Mount Vernon Hopital, Northwood, London (Ward 10)
Mountain Ash Hospital, Cynon Taf (Rowan Tree Cancer Centre)
Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton (The Beacon Centre)
Newport, Rutherford Cancer Centre
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre
NHS Fife, Dunfermline (Haematology and Oncology Unit)
NHS Grampian, Aberdeen (Roxburghe House)
NHS Lothian, Livingston (Carmondean Connected)
NHS Orkney (Macmillan House)
Noble's Hospital, Isle of Man (Cancer Improvement Services - Chemotherapy Suite)
Noble's Hospital, Isle of Man (Macmillan Information Centre)
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital (The Big C, Cancer Support & Information Centre)
North Highland Cancer Information & Support Centre, Thurso
North Manchester General Hospital, Crumpsall (Macmillan Information & Support Centre)
Northampton General Hospital (Haematology Outpatients)
Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne (Macmillan Cancer Support and Information Centre)
Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim (Macmillan Unit)
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, Scunthorpe (Macmillan Information Centre)
Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, London (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre)
Nottingham University Hospital (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Nuffield Health, Brighton (The Kestral Suite)
Nuffield Health, Cambridge (Oncology & Haematology Unit)
Nuffield Health, Glasgow Hospital
Nuffield Health, Guildford Hospital
Nuffield Health, North Staffordshire Hospital
Nuffield Health, Tunbridge Wells
Perth Royal Infirmary (Cornhill Macmillan Centre)
Peterborough City Hospital (Haematology/Oncology Ward)
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Derriford (The Mustard Tree Macmillan Support Centre)
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth (Haematology and Oncology Day Unit)
Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil (Macmillan Cancer Unit)
Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth (The Combined Haematology and Oncology Centre)
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn, Shouldham Ward
Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Raigmore Hospital, Inverness (Macmillan Suite)
Ramsay Rivers Hospital, Rivers Chemotherapy Unit
Ramsay Health Care UK, Springfield Cancer Centre
Rigby Unit, Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital
Robert Horrell Wellbeing Centre, Peterborough
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan (Macmillan Information & Support Service)
Royal Bolton Hospital (Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre)
Royal Cornwall Hospital, The Cove (Macmillan Support Centre)
Royal Derby Hospital (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Royal Derby Hospital, The Nightingale Macmillan Unit
Royal Free NHS Trust, Hampstead, London (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre)
Royal Oldham Hospital (Haematology Unit - Ward 11)
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (Hamar Help and Support Centre)
Royal United Hospital, Bath (Cancer Information & Support)
Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee (Roxburghe House)
Salford Royal Hospital (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, Manchester (Department of Urology)
South Shields (Cancer Connections)
South Tees Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesbrough (The Trinity Holistic Centre)
Southampton General Hospital (Cancer Information and Support Centre)
Southend University Hospital (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Southmead Hospital, Bristol (NGS Macmillan Wellbeing Centre)
Spire Healthcare, Dunedin Hospital, Reading
Spire Healthcare, Elstree Cancer Centre, Elstree, Hertfordshire
Spire Healthcare, Harpenden Hospital (Roundwood Ward)
Spire Healthcare, Hartswood Hospital, Brentwood (Oncology and Breast Service)
Spire Healthcare, Hospital, Portsmouth (Oncology Service)
Spire Healthcare, Hull and East Riding Hospital, Anlaby
Spire Healthcare, Leeds (Oncology Unit)
Spire Healthcare, Leicester Hospital
Spire Healthcare, Little Aston Hospital, Sutton Coldfield (Lakeside Suite)
Spire Healthcare, Montefiore Hospital, St Ann’s Well Unit, Brighton
Spire Healthcare, Murrayfield Hospital, Edinburgh (Oncology Day Chemotherapy Centre)
Spire Healthcare, Norwich Hospital
Spire Healthcare, Parkway Hospital, Solihull (Oncology Day Unit)
Spire Healthcare, Roding Hospital, Redbridge (Oncology and Breast Service)
Spire Healthcare, Southampton Hospital (Cancer Care)
Spire Healthcare, Wellesley Hospital, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Spire Healthcare, Worcester South Bank Hospital (Oncology and Haematology Suite)
Spire Specialist Care Centre, Bristol
Spire Specialist Care Centre, Chelmsford
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, Tooting, London (Macmillan Information & Support Centre)
St Helen’s Hospital (The Lilac Centre)
St James Hospital, Leeds (Institute of Oncology)
St Johns Hospital, Livingston (Macmillan Centre)
Stockport (Beechwood Cancer Care Centre)
Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury (Cancer Care and Haematology Unit)
Strathclyde Hospital, Motherwell (Dalziel Day Hospice Unit) - unit closed in 2014
Tameside Macmillan Unit, Ashton under Lyne
The Bracken Trust, Llandrindod Wells (Cancer Support Centre)
The Christie, Oldham (The Christie NHS Foundations Trust)
The Christie Private Care, Manchester
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Bebington (The Papillon Suite)
The Duchess of Devonshire Wing, The London Clinic, London
The Harley Street Clinic Cancer Centre, London (35 Harley Street)
The Harley Street Clinic Cancer Centre, London (81 Harley Street)
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hillingdon (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough (Chemotherapy Day Unit)
The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough (Endeavour Unit)
The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough (Haematology Day Unit)
The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough (Inpatient Services)
The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
The Macmillan Horizon Centre Brighton
The Oasis, Jersey (Macmillan Cancer Support Centre)
The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, Aylesbury (Ward 5 Cancer Care and Haematology)
The Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast (Macmillan Information Service)
The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre, Friarage Hospital, Northallerton
Town and County Hospital, Wick (Newton Wing)
Trafford General Hospital, Manchester (Macmillan Wellbeing Centre)
UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London (UCLH Macmillan Cancer Centre)
Ulster Hospital, NI (Breast and Endocrine Centre)
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Boston (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre)
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Grantham (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre)
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Lincoln (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre)
University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
University Hospital of North Durham (Macmillan Information & Support Centre)
University Hospitals of North Midlands, Stafford (Macmillan Information and Support Centre)
Victoria Hospital, Fife (Haematology/Oncology Day Unit)
Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation Trust, Runcorn (Macmillan Delamere Centre)
Warwick Hospital (The Aylesford Unit)
West Middlesex University Hospital, Isleworth (The Mulberry Centre)
West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds (Macmillan Unit)
Weston General Hospital, Weston-Super-Mare (Macmillan Support Centre)
Western General Hospital, Edinburgh (Day Services)
Western General Hospital, Edinburgh (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre)
Western Sussex Hospitals, Chichester (Fernhurst Centre and Macmillan Information & Support Centre
Withybush General Hospital, Haverfordwest (Breast Unit, Day Service)
Wythenshawe Hospital (Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre)
York Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust Centre (Cancer Care Centre).
How to get help with your application
If you have any questions about MQEM, or would like help with your application, please contact us by email at mqem@macmillan.org.uk.