Common questions about Macmillan nurses

What do Macmillan nurses do? Back to top

Macmillan nurses specialise in cancer and palliative care, providing support and information to people with cancer, and their families, friends and carers, from the point of diagnosis onwards. Macmillan nurses offer the following:

•  specialised pain and symptom controlemotional support both for the patient and their family and/or carer
• give care in a variety of settings – in hospital (both inpatient and outpatient), at home or from a local clinic
• provide information about cancer treatments and side effects
• offer advice to other members of the caring team, for example district nurses and Marie Curie nurses
• co-ordinate care between hospital and the patient's home
• advise on access to other forms of support, including financial help

Macmillan nurses do not carry out routine nursing tasks, such as personal hygiene, changing dressings and giving medicines, and do not focus on non-cancer patients.

Macmillan nurses usually work normal office hours although this can vary. If you require urgent out of hours help, please contact NHS Direct on NHS Direct, 0845 4647 or www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk| .

Are they available during the night/at weekends? Back to top

Macmillan nurses are not an 'emergency service' – they usually work normal office hours although some can work different hours.

If the Macmillan nurse is unavailable, the service will ensure that a recorded phone message provides phone numbers of other services that can be contacted out-of-hours.
If you require urgent out of hours help, please contact NHS Direct on NHS Direct, 0845 4647 or www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk| .

What if you have a non-cancer diagnosis? Back to top

Macmillan focuses mainly on people affected by cancer but are increasingly sharing experience and working with colleagues caring for people with other conditions and do therefore provide some support for non-cancer patients.

How do Macmillan and Marie Curie nurses differ? Back to top

Macmillan nurses and Marie Curie nurses work to support cancer patients in very different ways. Macmillan nurses are especially trained to help patients, their carers and families throughout their experience of cancer by providing pain and symptom relief; information about cancer treatments and side effects; provide an opportunity to discuss problems, feelings and future plans; and offer advice to other members of the caring team.

Marie Curie nurses provide practical, hands-on nursing care during the terminal stages of cancer in patient's homes and will often be available for a morning, afternoon or all night, so that the family carers are able to rest.

Are Macmillan nurses available in the private sector? Back to top

Macmillan Nurses do not routinely see private patients, however please speak to your Consultant about a referral to Macmillan Services. You find your local information and support services here.|