£18m package announced for personalised cancer support

An £18m programme for cancer patients has been announced to give everyone diagnosed with the illness practical and emotional support.

The programme aims to provide dedicated support workers to every cancer patient, freeing up doctors and nurses to focus more on medical care.

The Scottish Government and the Macmillan Cancer Support charity will invest £9m each to the Transforming Cancer Care programme, with the target of providing support to every patient in Scotland by 2023.

While Macmillan has provided different levels of personalised support to NHS patients in areas across Scotland, this will be the first nation-wide programme of its sort in Scotland.

The Scottish Government hopes that by meeting its 2023 target to provide support to every patient in the country, Scotland will be the first country in the UK to fulfil its promise on personalised care.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced details of the programme on a visit to the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow.

She said: “Dealing with the physical and emotional impact of cancer is traumatic enough without having to cope with the stress it places on other aspects of daily life for individuals and their families.

“This £18 million partnership will make Scotland the first country in the UK where cancer patients will have access to dedicated practical, financial and emotional help.

“The programme will help fulfil the Scottish Government’s ambitions to ensure everyone with cancer is offered a personal care plan and access to the support they need, making it easier for people to continue their personal and professional lives for as long as possible whilst under-going cancer treatment.

Janice Preston, Head of Macmillan Services in Scotland, said that the national scheme builds on trials the charity has offered in local authorities,

She said: “Medical professionals do all they can, but they just don’t have the time or knowledge to support people properly with problems like not being able to afford to pay their rent, or find the energy to make themselves meals.

“Macmillan has been testing the effect of offering one-to-one support from diagnosis onwards.

“The impact it has had in Glasgow and other areas in the country has been incredible. We’re delighted to be partnering with the Scottish Government to spread this support across Scotland as quickly as possible.