The new centre will provide more space and bring together a range of services in one location for patients and their families.
This will include specially trained staff and volunteers to offer emotional and practical support, cancer information resources, welfare benefits advice, a quiet room for privacy and a group activity room for local support groups and complementary therapies.
Macmillan has spent over £250,000 to fund the new centre that will complement the existing Macmillan Information and Support Service in Grantham and Boston. Outreach support will continue to be offered from a range of other venues across Lincolnshire to ensure as many people as possible have access to cancer information and support.
Once built, the new centre will be able to help more people like Claire Walker from Sleaford. Claire was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and as well as having support from her Macmillan nurse, visited the current centre at Lincoln, where she was supported by the centre manager who offered emotional support and helped signpost Claire to other services.
“Bev has helped me in many ways during my treatment. She has showed me how to claim a one-off Macmillan grant to help me with money worries. I used it to pay for petrol to travel to hospital and for scarves when I lost my hair,” said Claire.
“She has been there for me every step of the way, even talking to my husband, telling him what could happen during chemotherapy treatment. Bev is amazing!
“Having the new support centre in the outpatients entrance will benefit so many more people with cancer. I think a lot more patients and their friends and family will use it now. Chemotherapy can really zap the energy out of you, so it’ll be great to have a more comfortable space.”
Fran Sharp, Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service Lead at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) said: “We are thrilled that construction is now underway. We’re very excited to be able to offer patients and their loves ones a welcoming, comfortable and relaxed environment instead of the small, temporary location we currently have.
“Patients will no longer have to sit and wait in a corridor, we’ll have nice new chairs where they can wait and be supported by one of our trained volunteers. Also, we can now extend our range of services to offer people with cancer things like wig fitting and welfare benefits advice.”
For information, support or just someone to talk to, call 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk