The Macmillan Improving the Cancer Journey Service, aimed at helping to support cancer patients was introduced in August 2022.
Since its launch, it has helped to provide emotional, physical and financial support to people living with cancer in East Dunbartonshire.
The service is open to everyone aged 16 and over living with cancer, regardless of the type or where they live in the area.
Both Macmillan Cancer Support and East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) work alongside other organisations to ensure the best service possible is provided to residents.
Macmillan Cancer Support invested £320,000 in the Improving the Cancer Journey Service creating seamless personal support for people afflicted with cancer. At the time of the service being launched there were around 5,000 people living with cancer in East Dunbartonshire.
Through just one phone call, patients can access a variety of support.
As well as providing services to every newly-diagnosed cancer patient within East Dunbartonshire, it also allows patients to receive a one-to-one meeting with a dedicated Cancer Wellbeing Practitioner. These practitioners offer patients an extensive list of support, ranging from emotional to physical aid.
A meeting with a Wellbeing Practitioner consists of identifying the support each patient specifically needs with tailored advice then provided. These meetings give people a safe space to talk about how they feel, gain help at home and receive advice with money or housing worries.
The Wellbeing Practitioners also provide Holistic Needs Assessments (HNA). This is used to assess a patient’s specific needs. and has helped patients to recognise what is troubling them to create a plan unique to each person. The assessment is made up of a series of straight forward questions which allows a Practitioner to identify which issue to tackle first.
All people in East Dunbartonshire living with cancer can access this service through making a phone call to the team.
Caroline Sinclair, Chief Officer, East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership said, “We are very proud to come together with Macmillan to provide this significant support.
“Often people living with cancer haven’t known where to find alternative means of support, but this service has made sure that people receive the help they need.
“This service has transformed cancer support in East Dunbartonshire, thanks to Macmillan Cancer Support and the donations they have received to make this service a reality.
“It has and will continue to benefit the lives of local people and families, through the access to the support that they need.”
The service was created as a part of an £18 million partnership which has made Scotland the first country to provide guaranteed wraparound support. Both MacMillian and the Scottish Government have provided £9 million each to ensure emotional, physical and financial aid.
To find out more about the East Dunbartonshire Macmillan Improving the Cancer Journey service you can call 0141 232 8256 or email eastdunicj@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.