Purple House needs funding
The HSE is determining whether Purple House’s proposals seeking funding for counselling are in line with the new Cancer Strategy.
Minister Simon Harris said that the HSE are in the final stages of consultation with the National Cancer Control Programme on this.
‘ They need to complete this work before they can determine whether additional funding can be made available to Purple House,’ said Mr Harris.
He said that he has asked them to give him an update as a matter of urgency.
A spokesman for Puprle House Cancer Support said that they are calling on the health minister to deliver on his promise to provide sustainable funding to provide counselling services.
‘Due to the unprecedented demand on the Purple House Cancer Support counselling service, we are struggling to keep up with this demand due to lack of HSE and state funding,’ said the spokesman.
‘Our organisation can no longer rely on fundraising to provide such a vital service as well as a daily drop-in. This service is a lifeline to children and adults who are dealing with the shock of a cancer diagnosis.
‘We have been working with the Minister for Health Simon Harris and the HSE over the past year and now it is the time for the minister to deliver.’
They said that their services are in line with the new National Cancer Strategy due to be launched. ‘Purple House have been represented on the National Patient’s Forum for the strategy and have been heavy involved in its contents.’
Some of Purple House’s services over the course of 2016 included 1,729 drop-in support sessions, 320 hospital transport trips, 222 counselling sessions, and much more.
They provided 165 relaxation sessions, health awareness programmes, Go For Life physical activity classes for the over 60s, 250 sessions to the men’s group, 206 complimentary therapies sessions, and 2,984 telephone helpline support calls to clients.
Clients availed of 77 art therapy sessions, 98 sessions in pottery, and more.
‘Many continue to use our facilities for a broad range of services depending on their situation. Our Services give both adults and children the skills needed to cope with a difficult situation in the community, long after medical treatment has finished,’ said the spokesman.
‘Hospital transport is used by many of our clients to attend for treatment and this in turn integrates them into the drop-in facilities for other support systems.’
‘I know Purple House for many years and I am a strong supporter of the excellent services they provide for people with cancer and their families throughout County Wicklow,’ said Minister Harris.
‘As Minister for Health, I understand only too well how people with cancer and their families benefit from services and supports from organisations like Purple House all over the country.’