New drop-in cancer centre opens in Oban
AN INFORMATION centre that will help people cope with the effects of cancer was launched on Monday.
Argyll and Bute MSP Michael Russell and Provost Len Scoullar officially opened the Macmillan cancer information and support service within Oban Library.
The facility will be open whenever the library is and is stocked with books, audio books, e-books, DVDs, leaflets and a space for people to sit and relax.
Every Wednesday from 2.15pm to 4.15pm people who are suffering from cancer, as well as family, friends and carers of people with the disease, can drop in and chat to a support worker who will be on hand to offer emotional support and information.
Before cutting the opening ribbon, Mr Russell spoke of the importance of being able to get accurate information about the disease.
He said: ‘Cancer is an area that people think they can look up on the internet, but often they get worried and confused.
‘This is a great place for people as [ you can talk to someone face to face] – you can’t have a conversation with a computer.
‘This is the type of project that works with local people and we should be very grateful to Macmillan.’
As well as the public area decorated by photographs donated by Oban Photography Club, there is a private room for one-on-one support.
Macmillan cancer information and support ser- vice manager Deirdre Henderson added: ‘We are not here to diagnose people, we are here to offer emotional support and for a chat.
‘It’s important for people to understand that there is an area people can use. For some, they might come in with something that they struggled with a while back when they were caring and they want to talk about their feel- ings. We help with a wide range of things. Our information goes through all the usual things and also helps with the money side of it, looking after people and bereavement.’