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Macmillan makes sure that the voice of people affected by cancer is heard at Stormont.
We support MLAs.
The External Affairs NI team works with MLAs to reach and improve the lives of as many people affected by cancer as possible.
We’re here to help you make sure that people in your constituency are well supported at every stage of the cancer journey.
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Together we can make a difference so that no one in Northern Ireland faces cancer alone.
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Get in touch todayThe story of cancer is changing. More people than ever before are being diagnosed in Northern Ireland.
Earlier detection and better treatments have greatly increased the numbers living with cancer as a long-term condition. Services designed to provide care and support must continue to improve, in order to meet the rising demand and help people to live well during and after cancer treatment.
Macmillan supports the ongoing reforms and modernisation of health and social care that have been driven by the Assembly in recent years, but more needs to be done to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.
During the previous Assembly mandate, Macmillan worked with the Health and Social Care Board, the Public Health Agency and the Northern Ireland Cancer Network to develop the Transforming Cancer Follow Up (TCFU) programme.
Pathway redesign initially took place for new breast cancer patients and is now being implemented across a range of other areas. The results so far indicate that TCFU has been very successful in replacing the traditional ‘one size fits all’ approach to aftercare with a new system that has improved patient experience whilst reducing duplication and unnecessary appointments.
Macmillan is also supporting calls for a cancer strategy to cover the whole pathway. We believe the development of a strategy would be an important step towards modernising services and reducing variation in the availability and quality of care. It is essential that any strategy has a strong emphasis on patient experience and the needs of people living with and beyond cancer. In the meantime, we look forward to the publication of the revised Cancer Services Framework.
Macmillan joined forces with the Public Health Agency to deliver Northern Ireland’s first Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES) in 2015, with over 3,000 responses. The vast majority of patients (92%) rate their overall care as highly positive, but there are also variations which must be addressed.
We believe that everyone living with cancer – regardless of where they live, the type of cancer they have, or the hospital they attend for treatment – should have equal access to high quality person-centred care and support.
Currently too many patients are not receiving information at key stages in the cancer pathway. Providing timely, appropriate and easily understood information helps people understand their cancer, make informed decisions about treatment and care and cope with any long term consequences they may experience. This also helps to deliver improved patient safety, reduce risk and support better self-management outside acute hospitals in line with Transforming Your Care and the Donaldson Report.
It is our goal to ensure that people living with cancer are signposted to the support they need at each stage of their cancer journey. This can be achieved through better integration and coordination of health and social care and voluntary sector services. The NI Assembly can help by championing patient experience and ensuring that CPES is repeated, with its findings used to drive key improvements and achieve excellent care for everyone facing a cancer diagnosis.
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We are committed to identifying unmet need for services, investing in and developing the workforce.
There are more than 170 Macmillan professionals working in hospitals and community settings across the five Health and Social Care Trusts. These include nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dieticians, occupational therapists and welfare benefits advisers, as wells as GPs, consultants and service leads.
Macmillan also supports a growing network of unpaid volunteers to provide valued assistance to people affected by cancer, both in the community and in Health and Social Care settings.
As the number of people living longer with cancer increases and many develop multiple conditions, primary care services have a key role to play in managing and coordinating their care. In many cases, the GP is the first point of contact and their ability to signpost to appropriate support services are highly valued by the patient.
With increasing numbers of people living with cancer as a long term condition, GPs and community pharmacists must be assisted in supporting self-management. This includes promoting recovery and healthy lifestyle and ensuring that patients are equipped to use medication effectively.
Macmillan believes that the needs of people living with cancer should be a priority for primary care services. Professionals must have opportunities to improve their knowledge of the late effects of cancer and the consequences of treatment. This will enable GPs to identify signs and symptoms of recurrence sooner, make earlier referrals and improve outcomes for patients.
Cancer is the most common cause of deaths in Northern Ireland (28%), but too many people do not receive good quality care that meets their individual needs and wishes.
Macmillan has campaigned for the NI Assembly to promote the use of advance care planning (ACP). This allows people to shape their future health and social care – where it’s delivered, who can make decisions on their behalf, or what they want to be told about their condition. Best use of ACP requires health professionals to be trained to communicate well during difficult conversations.
Improved uptake will depend on greater public awareness of the process and its ability to help people maintain control of their care if their condition changes.
The ‘Living Matters, Dying Matters’ strategy and the Transforming Your Palliative and End of Life Care programme, both drivers of significant progress during the previous Assembly term, have now ended. We consider it vital that improvements to palliative and end of life care remain high on the agenda, in order to enhance quality and meet rising demand.
Our campaigns fight for real change for people affected by cancer. By taking action, you can help transform the lives of people with cancer. Join us in demanding the best in cancer support.
The Macmillan Policy team demands better for people affected by cancer by working across the UK to develop, drive and support policy solutions to improve their lives.
Macmillan’s research helps us, and others, understand the needs, numbers and experiences of people affected by cancer, to develop and influence better care and services.
Order or download free, reliable information that is easy to understand. Our booklets cover signs and symptoms, diagnosis, cancer types, treatments and living with cancer.
Waiting to hear the results of tests can be a worrying time. You can talk to us about how you are feeling.
If you're deciding which charity to support with your fundraising, talk to us. We want to be there for everyone affected by cancer, and we need your help.
What's happening near you? Find out about support groups, where to get information and how to get involved with Macmillan where you are.
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