A new Community Cancer Nurse service will be launching in North Cumbria in the near future, with support from Macmillan, and clinicians and health leaders would like your input to make sure it provides the support that you need.

Professionals providing the care and organisations supporting people following a diagnosis of cancer recognise that following diagnosis, cancer becomes part of a person’s identity, and so support for patients as well as their families, friends and carers, must continue even after the treatment has ended.

To help get the service right, people are invited to answer two key questions:
• What does a Community Cancer Nurse service mean to me?
• What community support can be provided in North Cumbria to help me feel more supported as a patient?

This could be anything from completing Holistic Needs Assessments with patients, to advice and guidance that is provided to patients and carers, or carrying out home visits to patients recently discharged from hospital – all ideas are welcome and valued.

Drop in sessions are taking place on the below dates, and clinicians and leaders are particularly keen for people to join them at one to submit their answers on post-its:
• Friday 19 July: 12pm-1pm, Classroom 3, Education Centre, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle,
• Wednesday 24 July: 6pm-7pm, Classroom 3, Education Centre, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle,
• Tuesday 30 July: 6pm-7pm, Cockermouth Community Hospital
• Friday 2 August: 12pm-1pm, Lord Adams Room, Education Centre, West Cumberland Hospital
• Monday 5 August: 12pm-1pm, Lord Adams Room, Education Centre, West Cumberland Hospital

If you would like to attend one of the sessions, please RSVP with details of your chosen session to: Laura.barton13@nhs.net. If you are unable to attend but have ideas to share, you can send these through to the same email address.

Lynsey Robson, Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse for North Cumbria, said: “This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of community care and cancer services for North Cumbria. With 1 in 2 people developing cancer in their lifetime, we want to know what matters to you.

“We are looking for as many ideas as possible and so are keen for people to share this message with colleagues or contacts who may be interested in attending and contributing to this work.”