COLCHESTER PHONE SUPPORT BECOMES LIFELINE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE CANCER PATIENTS
For immediate release: 4th May 2020
As the people of Colchester follow the government’s advice to stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives during the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, a cancer support service is reaching out to people living with cancer with an offer of virtual support.
The Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service, which is based at Colchester Hospital, has had to rethink its provision after many of its face-to-face services were ruled out during the pandemic.
However, the determined team at the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) have found safe ways to continue providing the personal, one to one care and support patients need, with their buddying and befriending service — which is now operating over the phone — becoming a lifeline for the most vulnerable.
Dedicated cancer specialists and volunteers are working tirelessly to identify and check in with vulnerable patients and their families to see how they’re coping at home, so that more support can be provided if needed. This includes breast cancer patients who are in recovery, but still require monitoring.
With physical services mostly suspended, the team have ample space to make calls at a safe distance from each other — which also allows them to continue providing their normal offer of financial, practical and emotional support for anyone with queries or concerns about cancer. They can be contacted directly on 01206 745347 between 9am and 4pm on weekdays.
Being diagnosed with cancer is frightening at any time, but now as people are facing increased uncertainty, Macmillan’s services are more important than ever than ever. Macmillan, which is almost entirely funded by public donations, is facing a significant drop in income and has launched an emergency appeal so it can continue to provide vital support to people with cancer, now and in the future.
Debbie Farthing, Macmillan Cancer Information Manager said:
“Despite the incredibly difficult and uncertain situation every one of us has found ourselves in, we knew how important it was to keep going and to be there for the people who depend on our support, now more than ever.
“We are receiving calls from people who are understandably anxious about how the coronavirus will affect their treatment and care. Having enough money to pay the bills and feed a family is a frequent worry for people living with cancer, but the economic impact of Covid-19 is pushing more people into a financial red zone than before.
“Last week alone we processed 10 applications for Macmillan grants [to help cover the cost of expenses like clothing, higher heating bills and hospital travel fares] and have also been helping callers to ESNEFT’s new cancer support helpline to understand what benefits they might be entitled to.
“We can help take the weight off people’s shoulders by offering practical and emotional support but are also just here for a chat if everything’s getting too much. We can put callers in touch with appropriate local services for help with accessing benefits, arranging food deliveries and picking up prescriptions.”
Like many of her Macmillan colleagues across the UK, Debbie has also found herself working shoulder to shoulder with NHS colleagues as she divides her time between running the Macmillan service and manning ESNEFT’s cancer support helpline for patients with clinical and non-clinical queries. 10 years of experience as a Macmillan Cancer Information Manager means she is well-placed to offer the listening ear and expert advice people need.
In 2019 alone, the Macmillan team helped around 3,544 people diagnosed with cancer to manage the daily impact of living with the disease.
Sheona Evangeli, Macmillan Partnership Manager in Essex, said:
“In this unprecedented situation the way the teams at our local Macmillan services have adapted to ensure they are still able to support people is simply fantastic.
“At a time where Macmillan’s support is needed more than ever before we are also facing a significant drop in our income and the truth is that we can’t continue to be there for people who need us without the support of the public.
“We are doing everything we can to help address the immediate and unique challenges that having cancer during this pandemic brings but we need the public’s help. As a charity almost entirely funded by public donations, we’re asking people to give what they can, so that we can continue to provide vital support to people with cancer now and in the future. If you’re able to, please donate to our emergency appeal today.”
Anyone affected by cancer in Colchester or the surrounding areas, can contact the Colchester Macmillan team by calling 01206 745347 (Monday-Friday, 9am — 4pm), or emailing Deborah.farthing@colchesterhospital.nhs.uk
To donate to Macmillan Cancer Support, visit www.macmillan.org.uk/emergency or call 0300 1000 200.
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For further information, please contact:
Talia Samuelson, Macmillan External Communications Officer — East of England
07703 676493| tsamuelson@macmillan.org.uk
About Macmillan Cancer Support
We’re here to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can, providing physical, financial and emotional support. So whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you.
Comprehensive information and support, including Macmillan’s latest guidance and advice on the impact of coronavirus on cancer care, is available on www.macmillan.org.uk/coronavirus.
The charity’s online community continues to provide invaluable emotional and peer support. The free Macmillan Support Line is open seven days a week between 8am-8pm on 0808 808 00 00.
