Funding boost to support cancer patients in Bucks

The Cancer Care and Haematology Fund is based at Stoke Mandeville Hospital

The Cancer Care and Haematology Fund (CCHF) has given a New Year boost to a cancer information and support service in Buckinghamshire.

The charity will provide financial support of £5,000 a year to ensure the Cancer Information and Wellbeing Service can give everyone being treated with cancer in Buckinghamshire access to good quality, comprehensive and appropriate help and support.

The service is based at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, near Aylesbury, and is administered by Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust who are responsible for the cancer and haematology treatment centres at Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe hospitals.

Chair of CCHF, Dr Ann Watson, explained:

 “We are thrilled to be able to provide ongoing support for this excellent, nursing-led resource. We're confident that it will provide real value to those suffering from cancer in Buckinghamshire and who want to tap into a wide range of help as they progress through their treatment.”

Kate Lee, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Cancer Information and Wellbeing Lead, said:

“We are so grateful for CCHF's financial support. It will mean a great deal to the new service in so many ways – in particular paying for meeting venues around the county for our vital wellbeing and support events and courses.”

Among the key resources to be offered by the Cancer Information and Wellbeing Service are:

• Drop-in and appointment service for advice and support;            

• Citizens advice advisor (via email/ telephone);     

• Wig supply and fitting service (via the phone and virtual);    

• Signposting to other services including complementary therapies and local and national support groups;     

• A wide range of information booklets/leaflets on all aspects of living with cancer;  

• Advice and support once treatment ends and more...

The Cancer Care and Haematology Fund is a charity set up to help those with cancer and haematology based diseases in Buckinghamshire.

Through public fundraising a specialist unit – the CCHU - was built and opened in January 2001 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The charity continues to provide financial support for projects which benefit patients cared for at the CCHU, the Sunrise Unit in Wycombe Hospital and in community settings across Buckinghamshire and neighbouring counties.

Cash is raised by donations from a generous public and the charity is managed by a team of trustees and volunteers who give their time for free so that as much money as possible benefits the support and comfort of patients.