Cancer Support Services

If you are a newly diagnosed cancer patient, receiving treatment for cancer or are in the initial post-treatment period you are not alone. We offer a Cancer Support service that provides peer support, education, advice, and complementary therapies.

Our programmes also support those patients with disease recurrence and for those on a palliative pathway. Our aim is to empower you to improve symptoms and quality of life. We offer individual care to you and your family, and our expert nurses are on hand during all our sessions to review specific requirements, as needed.

We have recently completed an extension and complete refurbishment of all our patient facilities and our friendly Hospice team look forward to welcoming new patients and carers.

For more information, patient referrals or to register your interest in one of our Cancer Support Groups, please contact Natalie Braham.

Natalia Braham

Lead Nurse

Our cancer support group at the Hospice is on a Friday morning from 10am until 1pm. We are open for people to drop in, speak to one of our nurses and receive some complementary therapy such as massage, Reiki or reflexology.

Meet and chat to others in similar situations, of course if this is not for you the experience of having time for yourself to discuss issues with our team of professionals is really valuable. We have a team of experienced volunteer therapists who provide treatments to promote holistic wellbeing. Appointments are limited but we try to ensure that these are fairly allocated. Previous attendees have also benefitted from short relaxation sessions that the nurses can facilitate.

HOPE (Help Overcome Problems Effectively) is a self-management programme run in partnership with the staff from the Primrose Unit, Bedford Hospital.

This is a 6-week Cancer self-management programme created by Coventry University – in association with MacMillan Cancer, designed to empower the patient, to improve the quality of their life and to promote and maintain their independence.

The programme is focused on Instilling Hope & Positivity. It can alternate between the full 6-week course or the optional 2-hour taster session according to demand. As this is a structured programme prior registration is required.

Peer Support

There is space to have a to chat with others attending our support groups who are going through a similar experience and we have friendly volunteers on hand to make tea/coffee.
For many cancer survivors peer support can help to control the stress and emotional difficulties associated with getting back to a new and meaningful life following the trauma of a cancer diagnosis.

Education and Wellbeing

Information and education are provided in relation to individual conditions and the service provides opportunities for sharing of knowledge and psychological support. At each attendance, there is an individual review by a Registered Nurse and referrals are made to other members of the multi-disciplinary team as appropriate.

There is an opportunity to receive a complementary therapy, such as Reiki, reflexology, and massage.
There is access to in-house counselling if required.

These sessions are subject to availability.

Referral Criteria

Open to all newly diagnosed cancer patients, those receiving treatment and in the initial period post-treatment. Also, those patients with disease recurrence and those on a palliative pathway.

We offer self referral or referral to our programmes via a Health professional.

Fill in the form below for further information.

Register your interest in one of our Cancer Support Groups

We work in partnership with other healthcare professionals both within the hospital and in the community to deliver support to anyone who has received a life-limiting diagnosis, throughout investigations and treatment and beyond.

Your enquiry will be treated confidentially and a member of our nursing team will be in contact to discuss your individual requirements.