The money you raise will help us provide more information to people affected by cancer.
With your help the East of Scotland Fundraising team raises money to pay for Macmillan's services and grants throughout Edinburgh, Fife, Dundee, Angus, Perth and Kinross.
Fife
In Fife we are currently raising much needed funds for our £450,000 Macmillan Fife Appeal. This appeal will support:
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The Fife Benefits Project where two welfare benefits advisors help people affected by cancer access government benefits. Often people with cancer are unable to work but don't know which benefits they can claim. This can cause severe financial problems at a time when they face increased costs such as prescription charges. In their first year these Benefit Advisors helped over 350 people in Fife access £500,000 of benefits they were entitled to.
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A gastro-intestinal nurse has recently been appointed for the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. This nurse will join the other 26 nurses and other health professionals in Fife funded by Macmillan.
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A palliative care dietetic clinic is being piloted in Fife. This will provides advice and assistance to people with cancer who must follow a special diet because of their illness.
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A specially trained assistant chemotherapy practitioner will help nurses administer chemotherapy, improving the quality of the service in Fife.
In Fife in 2007 over 180 people received Macmillan grants amounting to £69,000 to help with specific needs such as clothing, equipment and respite.
Please contact Carolyne Nurse, Fife Fundraising Manager on 01382 226150 or e-mail cnurser@macmillan.org.uk for further information.
Dundee
A brand new unit has recently opened at Ninewells Hospital providing treatment for all five health boards from Tayside to the North of Scotland. Macmillan Cancer Support is providing a specialist team to man this unit including a consultant dermatologist, a pathologist, 2 nurses and 2 administrative support staff.
This specialist team will deliver the new Mohs microscopic skin surgery service (MMS) recognised globally as the gold standard treatment in non-melanoma skin cancer. In essence this treatment removes the need for excessive removal of normal healthy tissue with subsequent damage to surrounding structures, or incomplete removal of tumours. It hugely reduces the time spent in hospital and is usually dealt with during a one day outpatient appointment. In the vast majority of cases it also means that patients do not require reconstructive surgery.
Edinburgh
The newly refurbished and extended Macmillan Day Treatment Centre has opened at the Western General Hospital.
This Centre represents half of our £1.2million Appeal and will allow people with cancer to receive their chemotherapy in a much more suitable and comfortable environment. Macmillan understands that the design of a hospital can have an impact on the way to feel and respond to treatment. This is why we have an extensive 'cancer environments' programme, which uses the latest research into 'healing environments' to build specialist centre and units for people with cancer.
Perth
The Macmillan Cancer Support £3.775 million to fund a specialist palliative care unit for Perth and Kinross has received fantastic support from across the community. The new facility, scheduled to open in the winter of next year, will provide expert care for those with cancer and life limiting illnesses.
The unit will be built at Perth Royal Infirmary and provide both in-patient and day care services. The in-patient service will provide symptom control, rehabilitation and terminal care for up to 10 patients. Every patient will have a separate bedroom and a self-contained flat will enable families to be close to their loved ones. A coffee bar, a multi-faith room and a garden are just some of the features which will enhance a stay in the unit.
The first floor of the unit will be devoted to day care and drop in sessions, and include a hair-dressing salon, a craft room, two therapy rooms, a consultation and treatment room.
Patients will be able to access services including symptom control advice, psychological support, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutrition advice and complimentary therapies.
If you want to make a donation, volunteer, organise a fundraising event, involve your school, college, company, club or association in the appeal or need further information, please contact Neil Kennedy, Fundraising Manager for Perth Kinross & Angus, on 01382 226150 or e-mail nkennedy@macmillan.org.uk