Project summary
Patients, carers and support staff worked together to compile a directory of cancer support services across Ayrshire & Arran. Patients and carers ran an information stall at two local hospitals in order to gather feedback on the draft before printing
Project Dates
Start Date: 26/03/2009
Ongoing
Location of project
Ayrshire and Arran
Area of healthcare
Cancer Services, Primary care, Acute care, Community care, Specialist care, Voluntary sector
Guidelines followed
Informing, Engaging and Consulting
National Standards for Community Engagement
Approaches used
Patient/ lay members of committees, Surveys, Person-centred planning
Aims and objectives
At a meeting of the Ayrshire Cancer Forum it was proposed that an information and support directory be produced for local patients' and carers' use, which would be available to patients, carers and staff advising on support services available within Ayrshire & Arran to help them during their diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This would improve partnership working between cancer services in NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the voluntary sector by involving the Patient/Carer Panel for Cancer Services.
What we did
All cancer support organisations within NHS Ayrshire & Arran were asked to provide information on the service they provide and how this can be accessed by patients, carers and support partners. Information on national helplines was sourced and also included in the directory.
This information was submitted for compilation to Shoana Connell, Macmillan PPIO (Cancer) and Irene Wilson, Clinical Nurse Manager, Ayrshire Cancer Support.
The patients, carers and support group members who had been involved in compiling this directory were asked for their ideas for a title for the directory, and "Together in a Common Cause" was agreed by all involved.
Training undertaken
No specialist training was required. My job is to work with patients and their support partners on a daily basis.
Evaluation
A draft version of the directory was produced and we carried out a consultation exercise with patients, carers and staff during volunteers’ week in June. Patients and carers who had been involved in the production of the directory ran information stands at Ayr and Crosshouse Hospitals. Members of the public and staff were asked to comment on the directory and as a result some changes were adapted to the final draft.
Plans for the future
Ayrshire Cancer Support has agreed to fund the printing of the support and information directory. It will be distributed as widely as possible across Ayrshire & Arran, including to:
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Voluntary Organisations
- Psychosocial Oncology Dept.
- Social Work
- Ayrshire Hospice
- District Nurses
Other sources identified themselves during our Volunteer Week consultation. The directory will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis.