New cancer information centre to open at Wexham Park Hospital in the New Year

The Trust, in collaboration with Macmillan Cancer Support, is pleased to announce that a new cancer information centre will open in the main entrance at Wexham Park Hospital in the New Year.

The centre, which is funded by Macmillan Cancer Support, will provide support to patients, their families and carers and will provide information and guidance on all the things that people affected by cancer want and need, such as financial assistance, support groups and local self help initiatives, as well as information related to disease and treatment. Refurbishment of the area is currently underway and when finished will offer a comfortable and private environment for people to visit.

Nicola Neale, Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Manager who will be managing the centre is currently working with the help of the Trust Volunteer Co-ordinator to recruit a team of volunteers to help man the centre once it opens. As part of her role, Nicola will also be co-ordinating cancer information across the Trust, looking at what’s available online and setting up a revised Trust cancer web page.

Nicola said, “The new centre will be an incredibly useful resource for people. It will become the hub for information and will help ensure that people can easily access the help and advice they want. Making sure information is kept up-to-date and helpful is really important for people suffering with long term conditions. Wards often have leaflets relevant to a patient’s medical condition but do not have information regarding other support patients might want or need. Patients will also be able to access information on-line via a laptop and receive help to put together individual information prescriptions.”

Helen Petley, Macmillan Development Manager who has been supporting the development of this initiative says; ‘We are delighted that the Macmillan Information Centre will be in place shortly, helping to support the needs of people affected by cancer locally. Macmillan’s ambition is to reach and improve the lives of everybody affected by cancer, and we are only able to do so by working together with partners such as Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.’

Although the centre will focus mainly on cancer related information, it will also provide information on other long term conditions, such as dementia and information from other relevant organisations.

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Notes to editors:

Nicola Neale - biog

Nicola, a registered nurse and previous medical ward sister undertook a cancer care course with the Royal Marsden to develop her understanding and experience of nursing cancer patients. She has for the last 15 years been a senior lecturer at various local universities with a focus in teaching psychological care, cancer care and other long term conditions to qualified and student nurses

In her most recent role of link lecturer, Nicola regularly visited the oncology wards at Charing Cross Hospital. She is also a registrant panellist for the Investigating Committee, ‘fitness to practice’ panels for the Nursing & Midwifery Council.