Dumfries Maggie's cancer centre faces funding delays
The charity was told the budget might not free up until 2026 for the centre
Plans for a new Maggie’s cancer centre in Dumfries have been halted over budget struggles within Health and Social Care.
Campaigners hoped to see the centre located at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, saving people with cancer from having to travel to the next closest site in Glasgow.
The charity says it would make a “significant impact on the lives of people with cancer” to have a centre in the area.
A spokesperson added: “We would really like to see a Maggie’s centre in the home of our founder Maggie Keswick Jencks and ensure people living with cancer in Dumfries and Galloway can access our expert support on their doorstep.”
"Significant impact"
They have been working with NHS Dumfries and Galloway for almost a decade to with the aim to possibly establish a centre in Dumfries.
Chris Thomson’s mum was supported by the charity when she was undergoing treatment, and since her recovery he has taken part in a record 32 ultramarathons in 32 days to fundraise for Maggie’s.
He believes having a centre closer to people in Dumfries would be a “massive” help.
He said: “They looked after my family really well, and so to have that support and that care in the local area, would be enormous, and fantastic for all those who were unfortunately suffering with the illness.
“I think that would be an amazing thing to have that in the local area.”
"To have a safe space, to go there, to feel supported, is massive"
Chris’s mum travelled to Edinburgh for care while she was unwell, where he says they were “enormously supportive” not just of her, but of the family too.
He stressed how important it was for families to have that support too, saying: “Obviously it impacts the person who unfortunately has it cancer, but it also impacts other family members enormously.
“To have a safe space, to go there, to feel supported, is massive.”
A spokesperson for Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care said: “All trustees are hugely supportive of the model that Maggie's provides and recognise the benefits that a centre in Dumfries would bring.
“However, it was noted that they do not feel that the Board's charity can commit the required scale of resource in initial outlay and in ongoing support.”
"Expert support on their doorstep"
They added: “Maggie’s were advised that, if the Board is successful in delivering its ambitious redesign and cost reduction programme, it may be possible that this position could be revisited in the future.
The Board conveyed their disappointment to Maggie’s that the proposal could not be brought to fruition at this time.
“However, it recognised that the current situation precluded this development being taken forward at this stage, and it would be kept under review.”