Hospital and Citizens Advice Bureau unite to help cancer patients

Yeovil District Hospital’s newly refurbished Douglas Macmillan Cancer Unit has joined forces with South Somerset Citizens Advice Bureau to provide a Macmillan Welfare Benefits Service. The hospital is now offering a drop-in service provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau for cancer patients, their families and carers on three days a week.

CAB Macmillan Adviser Melvyn Norris said: “When you’re living with cancer, the difference between a good day and a bad day can often come down to really small things. Getting answers on something you’re worrying about or just having a chat with someone who understands can make a real difference.

“Having cancer can also be expensive – income may go down and expenses such as travel costs and child care may go up - we can give advice on how to claim benefits to which people are entitled. But it is not just about money and we can also help with issues around housing, employment and discrimination.”

The CAB Macmillan advice service at the hospital will be open for anyone to drop in between 9am and 4.30pm on Mondays and between 1.30 and 4.30pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. This service can also be accessed through the bureau by calling 01935 382086 and speaking to Ewa. Appointments can be made for a meeting either in the hospital, or at home for those who are not well enough to travel. 

Lead chemotherapy nurse in the Macmillan Unit, Maria Ormesher, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Citizens Advice Bureau to offer this service here in the hospital, which we hope will make a real difference to our patients and their families.”

Notes to editors:

• For more information contact Yeovil District Hospital’s Head of Communications Debbie Pugh-Jones on 01935 384233.
• The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice, and by influencing policy makers. South Somerset CAB offers advice through face to face and telephone contact at the Bureau in Yeovil five days a week from 10 am to 4 pm. The Bureau has a Money Advice Unit, and an established service offering legal help in welfare benefits and debt. Outreaches operate in Chard on Wednesdays from 10 am to 1 pm; in Crewkerne on Thursdays from 10 am to 1 pm, and in Wincanton on alternate Mondays from 10 am to 1 pm. For more information contact: Monica Carrier, Chief Officer or Alison Lennox, Advice Services Manager on 01935 382082.