Three Derry cancer charities awarded Cancer Charities Support funding

Three Derry cancer charities have received almost half a million pounds between them from the Department of Health’s Cancer Charities Support Fund.

Foyle Hospice received £221,281 to employ a community team specialty doctor, a physiotherapist, complementary therapist and a nursing assistant, to enhance cancer patient care and carer support in the Derry City & Strabane District Council area.

Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group received £91,771 for the Pink Ladies Cancer, Covid and You Family Support Programme in Derry. 

Derry Well Women received £27,575 to develop and enhance existing services for 300 women living with cancer and their carers.

This is the third and final round of awards made by the Cancer Charities Support Fund, part of a package of funding made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support carers, cancer charities and mental health organisations.

A total of £1.87m was provided to nine organisations working across the North of Ireland, to support people with cancer and their families, and to raise awareness of the disease.

Permanent Secretary Peter May said: “The Cancer Charities Support Fund aims to enable groups to provide a wide range of support services for cancer patients throughout Northern Ireland, covering key areas in the cancer pathway, from pre diagnosis through to palliative and end of life care.

“The money provides vital support to organisations whose work makes such a difference to the lives of those living with cancer, as well as their families and communities. These services are key support mechanisms towards the implementation of the Cancer Recovery Plan and the Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland 2022-2032, and important in working towards the Department’s aim of building cancer service capacity in communities.”

Mr May was speaking during a visit to Marie Curie in Belfast. The charity has been awarded £191,939 in the latest round of funding. The money will be used to support the Marie Curie Nurse Practitioner Service and the Psychological Support Service for people affected by cancer. Marie Curie is the largest charitable provider of end of life care in Northern Ireland, offering home-based nursing across all five Health and Social Care Trusts and hospice services in the Belfast and South Eastern Trust areas.

Paula Heneghan, Associate Director of Caring Services for Marie Curie Northern Ireland, welcomed the latest funding award: “Marie Curie is delighted to receive this money which will be used to improve our service for cancer patients on their palliative and end-of-life care journey.

“For the first time we will be able to recruit and develop the role of Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) in Palliative Care. This new role will bring enhanced nursing expertise to our team, allowing us to provide better care and support to patients in the community. 

“The funding also will enable us to provide greater psychological support and promote the mental health and wellbeing of cancer patients by working in partnership with Trust psychology services.”