Macmillan Cancer information and support hubs in Worcestershire

Macmillan information and support hubs in Worcestershire

Macmillan Information and Support services are in each of the hospitals within Worcester Acute NHS Trust. The information and support hubs are here for anyone affected by cancer. Each of our hubs are provided by Macmillan Cancer Support in conjunction with the NHS Trust. The Macmillan hubs are staffed by health professionals and supported by a team of trained volunteers.

Our core opening times are 9am-4pm Monday to Friday. We are closed on Bank Holidays. Please do check before making a special visit as sometimes the hubs may be closed. At the weekend, the Macmillan National Helpline is available on 0808 808 0000.

The Macmillan hubs can be contacted by email: [email protected] or by telephone:

Worcestershire Royal Hospital – Main Reception and Oncology Centre

Main Reception; 01905 733837

Oncology: 01905 760674

Alexandra Hospital

01527 503030 ext. 44238

Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre

01562 513273

Please note all telephones have a 24-hour answerphone message and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.

A cancer diagnosis raises many questions and concerns, and we are here to help.

We can offer practical help and emotional support and can signpost you to the right support at the right time. We are not a clinical service but we can support you with what to discuss with your health professionals to assist you in making decisions. If you have a clinical issue please call your medical team or GP.

The Macmillan Hub offers:

• Free confidential advice, support, and information for people living with and beyond cancer.
• A wide range of leaflets and booklets
• Information about local support groups
• Signposting to other appropriate services

This service is available Monday to Friday.

At the weekend the National Macmillan Support Line is available on 0808 808 0000. There is a psychology and counselling service for cancer patients within the Trust. A referral can be made to this service if appropriate.

Macmillan Money and more

When you or someone close to you has a cancer diagnosis, money might not be one of the first things you think about. But having cancer can be expensive; your income may go down, and your spending may go up. You may have to pay for a special diet, childcare, higher heating costs or travel to a hospital.

The Midlands Macmillan ‘Money & More’ Service offers a free, confidential advice service to people living with cancer, their carers and relatives. They can offer help on a range of issues including money, housing, debt, employment, and anything else that may be worrying you. You can self-refer to this service by emailing or by telephone. Alternatively, you can discuss your financial situation with the staff in our local Macmillan Information hub and they can refer you.

The service is open Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm

How to get in touch 02476 252050 (24 hr answerphone available) [email protected]

All cancer patients are entitled to concessionary parking on each hospital site. Please ask at the Macmillan Information hubs. When you have a cancer diagnosis you are entitled to free prescriptions. Please ask your GP about this.

Carers support

A carer can be anyone who provides physical, practical or emotional care. It can be a family member or a friend. Being a carer can be extremely rewarding but it can also lead to challenges. It is important to talk about any concerns you may have. The staff at the Macmillan Information hubs are there to offer emotional support and can signpost you to local services, such as Carers and Communities who can be contacted on 0300 012 4272 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

It may be useful to talk to Macmillan Money and More as you may be entitled to carer benefits and other financial support.

Macmillan Buddies

The Macmillan Worcestershire Buddy Service is a volunteer-led service providing emotional support across the county for people affected by cancer. Many people struggle to cope with the physical, practical and emotional effects of a cancer diagnosis. However, a Macmillan buddy can be there to provide a listening ear and can help signpost to other support services. You don’t need to leave your home as the support is given via the telephone. If you would like to be referred, please see the information on the website www.macmillan.org.uk/buddies

Living with and beyond Cancer

As a service we understand that living with a cancer diagnosis can be challenging. We have developed a Health zone Cancer Services App that contains information that can support you and your family.

• Information about the hospitals, the treatments you may have, and the teams you may meet
• Signposting to other services and organisations that may be able to offer support to you and those that support you
• An events calendar, keeping you up to date on what’s happening near you
• Information about other organisations and services
• Patient stories and support groups
• Contact information for services involved in your care

For more information or to suggest content for the app, please email: [email protected]

How to download the app?

If you are using your mobile phone to view this website, then you can:

• Download the app on the Apple App Store here (for iPhones)
• Download the app on the Google Play Store here (for Android phones)

These links will take you to a page to download the ‘Health zone UK’ app.

Once you’ve downloaded the app, open it up and type ‘Worcestershire Cancer Services’ into the search bar, once in the app you will have access the relevant sections for Worcestershire.

HOPE Programme – Help Overcome Problems Effectively

Following treatment, you may still feel you need support with moving forward.

The HOPE course uses positive psychology to support you to feel more positive and build confidence. Connecting with others who have also been through a cancer journey has proven to be beneficial. For further information about the HOPE course please contact [email protected] HOPE Lead.

The Macmillan National Service is also available either by telephone or online. Whether it is you, or someone you love, who has cancer, we will do whatever it takes to help you. If you are looking for information or just want someone to talk to someone:

• Contact our information specialists and nurses to ask your questions, for free, on 0808 808 00 00
• Visit our website, where you can register to get a Macmillan Buddy, a trained volunteer who can talk to you regularly.
• Chat to other people with cancer through our Online Community, at community.macmillan.org.uk

Patient Services Team

We trust that your care and treatment will be positive but if you have any problems please let your Clinical Nurse Specialist or the staff on the ward know as soon as possible. Some problems can be solved by talking through the issues but if you feel you wish to talk to somebody not directly involved with your care, you can contact a member of the Patient Services team who are there to listen to your concerns and help sort out problems on the patient’s behalf.

The Patient Services team can be contacted on 0300 123 1733.

The Patient Advice and Liaison service (PALS) can be contacted on 0300 123 1732 between 8.30am and 4pm Monday to Friday.