Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) has launched a new support service to provide additional practical and emotional support to cancer patients, along with their carers and companions.
Macmillan Cancer Support and the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System have provided funding to help people affected by cancer access support, which may not necessarily be related to their medical care, at NNUH, James Paget University Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn.
The service, called the Cancer Care Navigator project, has been set up to help people affected by cancer with non-clinical needs.
Cancer Care Navigators will work alongside clinical teams and specialist cancer nurses, helping to coordinate patients’ all-round care. This includes signposting to services for help with issues such as talking to family about cancer, financial concerns, practical concerns such as transport and shopping, and wellbeing advice. Navigators will hold an initial conversation to give patients the opportunity to ask questions or raise particular concerns they may have.
“We are thrilled to be launching this new service to provide additional support to the more than 6,000 patients who are diagnosed with cancer at NNUH every year,” said Rachel Casey, Macmillan Personalised Care Lead. “It is important that we empower our patients during a difficult time to seek support and information on issues that matter most to them.
“The navigators will proactively contact patients around 21 days after they have received their diagnosis to complete a HNA (Holistic Needs Assessment), we will provide them with our contact number so they can contact us at any time for information or support on practical, emotional or spiritual concerns.”
