Delight as cancer care can continue

CANCER care . . . Donna Dawson, Suzanne Dyer, Tracy Kelly and Jade Hughes

A CANCER support service which has helped more than 900 Oldham residents is set to continue after the project was given a funding extension.

The Oldham Macmillan 1-1 Support service provides a dedicated community resource to ensure people living with and beyond cancer receive the care, information and support they need.

The service, which is run by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, has been operating as a pilot funded by Macmillan Cancer Support since April, 2013, and has supported more than 900 residents over the past three years.

Ongoing

This success has led to its extension, with NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) deciding to commission the service on an ongoing basis.

Dr Matthias Hohmann, Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS Oldham CCG, said: “We are very proud of our Macmillan 1-1 service. It is highly innovative, and Oldham is one of very few places in England that can support people in this way.

“We are delighted to see how many Oldham residents affected by cancer have been supported to date, and it really is great news that the team’s success has enabled us to secure long-term funding for this service which means we will be able to help more people in the future.”

The team of experienced health care professionals offer care and information in relation to people’s individual physical, emotional, financial, psychological, social and spiritual needs and helps to ensure they have the best quality of life possible.

One patient to benefit from the support is Christine Sinclair, of Royton, who has praised the team for the help and advice they gave her after she was diagnosed with cancer.

Christine said: “The nurses were very good; they came to see me straight after I was diagnosed and were very sympathetic and helpful.

“They talked me through all sorts that I would never have thought of, like benefits that I was able to claim or adaptations for my home, such as a stairlift or ‘elephant’s feet’ to raise my furniture.

“They kept in constant contact with me when I was very poorly and were there any time I needed them.”

Between September 2015 and March 2016, 100 per cent of service users who completed the NHS ‘Friends and Family Test’ to give feedback said they were either extremely likely or likely to recommend the service to friends and family, should they require similar care or support.

Tracy Kelly, Macmillan 1-1 Clinical Coordinator from Pennine Care, said: “When we hear from patients about how Macmillan 1-1 support has helped them through a very difficult stage of their lives, it is clear just how valuable the service is.

“Over the three-year pilot, the service has really developed and enhanced the level of excellent cancer care that was already provided in Oldham by community health professionals, GPs and many other services.

“It’s fantastic that the work of the team, and the positive impact it has, can continue into the future.”

People who are affected by cancer and are living in Oldham or are registered with a GP in the borough can also get in touch with the team by calling 0161 621 7684. An answer-phone is available and the team will call back as soon as possible.

People can also email oldham.macmillansupport@nhs.net or write to: Macmillan 1-1 Support Team, Block 4, Southlink Business Park, Hamilton St, Oldham, OL4 1DE.