Swinney praises contact centre service for cancer patients

John Swinney has praised a cancer care service which provides patients with a single point of contact as they receive ongoing support.

The First Minister visited the single point of contact (Spoc) service based at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh as he confirmed £1.5 million in funding for 12 projects around the country.

During the visit on Wednesday he met staff at the digital contact centre who support patients with a range of different cancer types, as well as specialist oncology nurses.

The Spoc funding was contained in the Scottish Government’s budget for 2024/25.

Mr Swinney said the service is “really important”, adding: “What it means is that individuals have got a point of contact that they can go to when they’re on a cancer journey.

“They can get access to information and services and it’s a reliable single point, which saves patients having to weave together the complexity of services that are essential to provide good outcomes for cancer patients.

“It’s a service that makes a real difference to patients in Scotland.”

Katie Gibson, neuroendocrine tumour clinical nurse specialist at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, said:  “I’ve seen first-hand how the Spoc service has transformed our ability to care for cancer patients.

“The centralised system streamlines communication and allows us to spend more quality time with those who need it most.

“As a result, patients are aware of who to contact for the support and advice they require from diagnosis, treatment and beyond.”