Ambitious plans for Weston Park Cancer Care service

This news left her feeling ‘like she’d been punched in the stomach’ and she sought support from her local cancer charity who helped her ‘piece back together the jigsaw of me that doctors and hospitals couldn’t complete’.

Sadly this is a situation many of our clients can relate to and which our staff recognise through the hundreds of calls they have taken from worried cancer patients and their carers over the last few months.

Many charities find themselves with the paradox of a dramatic rise in people needing their help at the same time as a drastic reduction in income; something to which we can relate.

Weston Park Cancer Charity had ambitious plans for this year, focused on an expansion of our services across the region, underpinned by an increase in income buoyed by celebratory events to mark the 50th anniversary of Sheffield’s Weston Park Hospital, which takes place this year.

Sadly, many of our original anniversary events have been cancelled or postponed, supporters have naturally cancelled their own fundraising activities and we have planned for a 40 per cent reduction in income this year; with our plans to grow and develop services under review.

However, the need for our services are greater than ever.

Facing cancer is tough – cancer doesn’t just attack us physically; it can turn life upside down for whole families and Covid-19 makes it even tougher.

It is one of the reasons our care is complete, designed to help patients and the people around them with the physical, emotional and even the financial challenges.

We promise patients we are together at every step – all they need to do is call, and we’ll do everything we can.

Our helpline has seen a dramatic increase in calls from patients and carers worried about interruption to their treatment, concerned about their compromised immune systems and what might happen if they contract Covid-19, whether a loved one will be able to be by their side if they are admitted to hospital.

Many of those with cancer will have been advised to self-isolate and the anxiety and loneliness which this creates is palpable.

Although our cancer support centre is closed, healthcare professionals continue to work from home; delivering services online, over the phone and via email.

The pandemic has presented us with a unique opportunity to change, experiment and test new ideas such as virtual coffee mornings, online pamper sessions and food delivery services.

We have heard from clients, my own n an included, using Zoom technology for the first time to access our mindfulness sessions and then using the same technology to stay in contact with family and friends, surprising themselves and others by the steps they have taken.

We speak to cancer patients and their families every day and the feedback so far has been heart-warming including one individual who said: “Y ou’ve been amazing, it’s honestly been like negotiating a minefield these last few weeks but you have really helped me through it.”

Our helpline is open Mondays-Fridays, 9am- 5pm, on 0114 553 3330 - it’s free, confidential and open to anyone affected by cancer, not just Weston Park patients.

You can call our helpline and speak to one of our highly-skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals, book an appointment to ensure you are claiming the benefits to which you are entitled or take part in one of our mindfulness sessions.

Whatever your need, please don’t suffer in silence – give us a call and we will do whatever we can to help.

If we can’t help we can direct you to others who can.

The most important thing is you don’t try to get through alone when you need help – it’s just a call away.

For one in two of us, cancer will change everything. When it does, so can we.

For more information about Weston Park Cancer Charity, visit westonp ark.org.uk