Macmillan Cancer Support
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The Macmillan Team: Mairead Johnson, Michelle Campbell, Siobhán Muldoon, Phyllis Nellins, Fiona McDonald, Diane Livingstone
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Background
The Macmillan Cancer Support and Citizens Advice partnership provides a dedicated Welfare Rights Service to cancer patients, their families and carers within the three main Belfast hospitals. As a service Macmillan Cancer Support is committed to addressing the wider social needs of patients.
Research conducted for Macmillan Cancer Support into benefits advice for people living with cancer and their carers has revealed that financial concerns are second only to physical pain as a cause of stress.
Macmillan has been to the forefront in identifying this area of need and has been running successful welfare rights services across England and Scotland for a number of years. Combining this knowledge with the expertise of Citizens Advice has proved to be a winning formula. Both Macmillan and Citizens Advice have a history of and commitment to identifying areas of social policy and associated need relevant to their objectives. This trend has been advanced within hospital sites as advisors contribute to research by reporting issues from casework, and actively participating in ongoing education and research.
The Welfare Rights Service is now available within the three main Belfast hospitals :
Royal Victoria Hospital (including the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children)
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Service is available to both in-patients and out-patients. Referrals are accepted through Macmillan nurses and hospital social workers. Tel: 028 90330854 |
Belfast City Hospital
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Service is available to both in-patients and out-patients. Referrals are accepted from Cancer Centre Social workers and through the daily drop in at the Macmillan Support and Information Centre located on the Lisburn Road. The Drop In service is available Monday to Wednesday 10:00am to 12:00. Clients are assessed and may then be given a further appointment for advice. Tel: 028 90 699307 |
Mater Hospital
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Service is available to hospital in-patients and out-patients and referrals are made through Macmillan nurses and hospital social workers. Tel: 028 90802466
In addition to paid staff the service also uses volunteers and would welcome enquiries from any interested individual who would like to train as a volunteer adviser with a Citizens Advice Bureau and work for the Macmillan project. |