A new service to ensure people living with cancer and their families are offered emotional, practical and wellbeing support has been launched in Ayrshire and Arran, as part of a successful model delivered across Scotland.
The Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ) service is jointly funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and the Scottish Government, working in partnership with East, North and South Ayrshire health and social care partnerships and NHS Ayrshire & Arran.
The service aims to provide every person affected by cancer, including families and carers, with vital assistance in finding support for any non-clinical concerns they may have.
Macmillan facilitators will help individuals to identify their non-clinical needs and support them to access advice, information and support.
The facilitators will work one-to-one with patients, families and carers to develop personalised care plans, outlining goals and actions for support.
The service is part of the Improving the Cancer Journey initiative, which is already in place in other parts of Scotland.
Gordon McLean, Devolved Nations Manager and Nations Lead (Scotland) for Macmillan, said: “Cancer has a huge impact on every aspect of people’s lives and many people tell us they don’t know where to turn for help. This new service should make sure everyone with cancer and their families and carers in Ayrshire & Arran have someone to call on for help.
“ICJ workers will help individuals to identify their needs and access expert support, from practical advice to emotional support – whatever they might need. We hope this service will transform cancer support across Ayrshire and Arran.”
On average, approximately 2,621 people are diagnosed with cancer in Ayrshire and Arran each year, and an estimated 15,907 people are living with cancer; however this does not count the carers providing support. By 2030, one in two of us can expect to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives.
Dr Caroline Rennie, Macmillan Nurse Consultant at NHS Ayrshire & Arran, explained some of the wider benefits that the service will have for cancer patients.
She said: “Improving the Cancer Journey will add to established services available in NHS Ayrshire & Arran. Through joint working, it will release time for clinical nurse specialists for advanced patient care, whilst ensuring needs are met and improving the overall patient experience.”
Caroline Cameron, Director of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We are delighted to mark the launch of this fantastic service across Ayrshire and Arran, which will see us working in partnership with our colleagues in NHS Ayrshire & Arran, the Ayrshire HSCPs and Macmillan Cancer Support to deliver support to those living with cancer and their families.
“We know that a diagnosis of cancer can affect so much more than an individual’s physical health, and we hope that this service will make it much easier for people with cancer to find out about the support that is available and how to access it.”
To find out more about the Ayrshire and Arran Macmillan Improving the Cancer Journey service, call 01563 827028, email aa.icj@aapct.scot.nhs.uk or visit the ICJ webpage.
Upcoming drop-in information sessions are as follows:
- Monday 6 October – Kilwinning Library: 10am to 12pm and Irvine Library: 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday 14 October – Largs Library: 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday 23 October – Saltcoats Town Hall: 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday 30 October – Kilbirnie Library: 10am to 12pm
The service is free and available to anyone, aged 16 and over, living in Ayrshire and Arran that has been affected by cancer. This includes people living with cancer and those affected by cancer such as partners, carers and family members.
“We are delighted to mark the launch of this fantastic service across Ayrshire and Arran, which will see us working in partnership with our colleagues in NHS Ayrshire & Arran, the Ayrshire HSCPs and Macmillan Cancer Support to deliver support to those living with cancer and their families. We know that a diagnosis of cancer can affect so much more than an individual’s physical health, and we hope that this service will make it much easier for people with cancer to find out about the support that is available and how to access it.”Caroline Cameron, Director of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership