I’ll be your buddy – new support service for cancer patients

Christine Newton

A new service has been launched to support cancer patients and their carers in Rochdale borough.

The cancer buddy scheme at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust aims to provide people affected by cancer with the opportunity to talk to another cancer patient or carer who has already been through it.

The initiative has been developed by the Pennine Cancer Patient User Partnership, working with The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support.

“Cancer buddies” are carefully selected and attend a two day training programme devised by Macmillan to see what buddying involves and whether it is suitable for them. Following the training, they undergo the same disclosure checks as other Trust volunteers before being cleared to work within one of the Trust’s four main hospitals.

Working to clear guidelines, the buddies’ role is around being able to provide support, mainly by listening and being able to empathise with cancer patients, as they have experienced the disease/illness themselves.

Christine Newton who helps provide a buddying service for people with laryngectomies (surgical removal of their voice box), described the benefits of buddying. “When you have cancer it can sometimes help to talk to someone who has already been through it”, she said. “When you are told you have cancer it can be very daunting and you can feel lost. Talking to someone may help you feel less like you’re on your own and make you feel more confident about coping with the situation you are in - it can make a big difference”.

Where possible, cancer patients who would like a buddy are matched as closely as possible to one of the trained buddies, depending on the type of person they are and the support they are looking for. Where this is not possible, alternative sources of support are provided, such as specific support groups or a local cancer support organisation.

The scheme offers up to three sessions of buddying, each lasting up to one hour. If further support is needed, the Macmillan Information and Support Centre will signpost the patient to the most appropriate help.

The first group of buddies have now completed their training and are ready to go out and about on the hospital wards and in the local community to support people affected by cancer. A second group will be trained in the coming months.

If you are interested in finding out about becoming a buddy, or would like to know more about the scheme, please contact the Macmillan Information and Support Centre on 0161 604 5244.