Extra support for cancer patients in East Suffolk and North Essex
A new cancer care navigator service has been launched at Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals.
Last updated 20th Oct 2020
The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) has announced extra support for cancer patients from diagnosis to discharge.
It will see four dedicated colleagues, or cancer care navigators, based at Colchester Hospital and an additional four at Ipswich.
Their role will include contacting anyone newly diagnosed with cancer to provide advice and signposting, as well as referrals to other supports groups or services they may need.
Contact will be kept between navigators and patients every three months to offer further advice and will remain on hand to answer any questions.
The initiative is being jointly funded by the East of England Cancer Alliance and Macmillan Cancer Support.
It's being overseen by Rachael Scott, strategic lead for Macmillan Cancer Services at ESNEFT.
She said: "This exciting pilot project will make sure cancer patients are given all of the help and support they need from diagnosis right through to discharge, in turn helping to reduce some of the anxiety and stress they may be feeling.
"The navigators will be able to help with everything from signposting people to financial or employment advice to informing them about courses, support groups and complementary therapies which they may find helpful. They will meet all of the patient’s non-medical needs, in turn freeing up clinical staff to focus on care and treatment.
"We will also be working with GPs, charities and other organisations to provide additional support for patients once their treatment has finished and as they transition to life beyond cancer."
Cancer care navigator, Sarah Lawrence, said: "Volunteering in the John Le Vay Cancer Support and Information Centre at Ipswich Hospital, as I’ve done for the last seven years, you come to appreciate that there really is no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to providing cancer support.
"Whatever a person has going on in their life suddenly has to co-exist alongside the daily challenges that a cancer diagnosis can bring. And with the coronavirus pandemic ongoing, these challenges have only multiplied.
"It can be devastating at first, but with regular guidance to address their changing needs and links into local support services, that person can resume an element of control over their life that allows them to live as well as they can with their diagnosis.
"That’s the essence of my new role as a navigator – helping people find the stability and security they need to keep moving forward."
The pilot project will initially run for 12 months, when the results will be evaluated to measure its success.