Event gathers people in Cumbria to improve cancer services

On April 17 at the Halston Hotel Carlisle, services including the Northern Care Alliance (NCA), and North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) met in a first-of-its-kind event to host presentations and discuss what more can be done to help those affected by cancer.

It is thought that one in two people will have cancer in their lifetime, and yet for many in Cumbria, treatment services are simply inaccessible, often due to a lack of options and funding.

A damning statistic suggested that one in four people with cancer are more worried about the cost of living crisis than their illness, while one in two people are worried about stopping cancer treatment due to money worries.

Posters and leaflets were available for those who needed it (Image: Jimmy Moorhouse)

Cancern, a network of VCFSE organisations in the North East and North Cumbria who offer support for those who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis, organised the event and are looking to attract even more attendees to their next event in Middlesbrough in June.

The elephant in the room was money. Nearly all presentations mentioned funding, or the lack of it, and there was a collective disappointment that those who hold the purse strings did not show up.

The introduction of cancer care coordinators has helped to offer patients a more personal connection, while online services offer more advice on health and wellbeing support.

Cumbria is a rural area and cancer services are a postcode lottery for many in the county.

The event was well-attended and featured workshops alongside presentations (Image: Jimmy Moorhouse)

But everyone at the event was passionate about offering more, changing cancer services for the better, and making sure that those affected by the disease receive all the support they need.

Network coordinator Lorna Joisce said: "There were people in the room today that can get that message further. We can’t always expect a senior commissioner to be here but we are making small steps to get there. I asked for rawness, vulnerability and passion and I think we’ve had that today. I’m really proud of that achievement, it’s something to be celebrated."