Macmillan Cancer Support Centre offering telephone support
As Derbyshire follows the government’s advice to stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, a cancer support centre is reaching out to self-isolating cancer patients with the offer of telephone and email support.
Despite its doors not being open, Royal Derby Hospital’s Macmillan Information Centre are doing everything they can to provide vital support to people with cancer during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. The determined team are running a dedicated telephone and email service four days a week, 8.30am - 4.30pm.
Centre Manager, Lisa Freeman, said: “Despite the incredibly difficult and uncertain situation every one of us has found ourselves in, we knew how important it is to offer our support - we know there are people that need our support now, more than ever. We are getting lots of calls about cancer and coronavirus but also about people with terminal cancer who are feeling lonely or people that need to apply for financial support like benefits – it’s very varied. Though our doors are temporarily closed and many of us are working alone for everyone’s safety, we are very much still here for people affected by cancer in Derbyshire.”
People in need of support can call the Centre on 01332 786008. Lisa and Macmillan support worker, Jo, are offering: free cancer information including answering questions about cancer, treatment and side-effects; financial support such as help applying for benefits and one-off Macmillan grants by referring the patient online – a member of the welfare benefits team will then call them back to start a benefits assessment. Lisa adds: “We are also helping people that have less than six months to live with emergency benefits applications they may be entitled to. We don’t want anyone with cancer to feel helpless or isolated – we are here if they need us”.
Sue Sanderson, Macmillan Partnership Manager for Derbyshire, said: “In these extraordinary times, the way Lisa and Jo at the Macmillan Cancer Support Centre are still there to support people with cancer is simply amazing”.
The team at the Macmillan Information Centre are available on 01332 786008 or dhft.cancerinformation@nhs.net four days a week, 8.30am - 4.30pm (opening hours may vary).
If you need support when the virtual centre is closed, comprehensive information and support, including Macmillan’s latest guidance and advice on the impact of coronavirus on cancer care, is available macmillan.org.uk/coronavirus and the Macmillan Support Line is open 7 days a week between 9am-5pm on 08088 080 000.
To donate to Macmillan Cancer Support call 0300 1000 200.