New cancer team set to make care personal
ANEW Community Cancer Service for the borough is to be launched this month.
Residents of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, who have been affected by cancer – and their relatives – are invited to a launch event for the new service on Friday September, 28 at the Peterloo Medical Centre, on Manchester Old Road, Middleton, between 9am and 12pm.
The event will showcase the dedicated support available for people living with and beyond cancer in the Rochdale borough. Healthcare professionals from the Community Cancer Service will be there to provide any information about their service, along with other related care professionals and services nearby.
The Community Cancer Service provides bespoke support packages for local people diagnosed with cancer, based on each patient’s individual needs.
Initially the service will be available for three months from October 1 to December 31 in Middleton and Rochdale Central neighbourhoods, before being rolled out to the rest of the borough from January 2019.
Dr Carolyn Walker, Macmillan GP and clinical lead for cancer at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Good health and wellbeing is so important for people living with and beyond cancer and the new HMR Community Cancer Service is designed to provide a resource that people can access for the personalised care, support and information they need to enjoy the best possible quality of life.
“People who have received a cancer diagnosis, their friends and family are welcome to attend our launch event to find out more about the service.
“It coincides with our coffee morning to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care, so people can drop in for a coffee, cake and a chat with the team.”
The service is available from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond and is for people with a cancer diagnosis who are expected to live 12 months or longer.
A team of healthcare professionals who are specialists in cancer care will deliver the service.
Initially the Community Cancer Service team will hold drop-in sessions at Middleton, Alkrington and Rochdale Central libraries, and they will also provide support to patients via home visits, telephone and email.
For any enquiries about the service, please get in touch by calling 01706 517982.