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First independent health and wellbeing event for cancer patients at Chelsea and Westminster

25 January 2017

Healthcare professionals at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital hosted their first individual health and wellbeing event for people affected by all types of cancer as part of the National Living With & Beyond Cancer Initiative.

Healthcare professionals at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital hosted their first individual health and wellbeing event for people affected by all types of cancer as part of the National Living With & Beyond Cancer Initiative.

Wellbeing events are one element of the Recovery Package which is a series of interventions aimed at supporting patients living with and beyond cancer. The event aims to share information and techniques for patients and their carers to use to help them self-manage their health and wellbeing, and improve their quality of life.

Chelsea and Westminster Macmillan Information and Support Centre Manager Rachel Waters said: “Today was a huge success and a real celebration of staff and volunteers going above and beyond to make patients feel cared for at the end of treatment. We had 33 visitors today and we hope to welcome even more attendees at our future events.”

Patient David Capri said: “I personally think it is a wonderful event for patients. Chelsea and Westminster is not really like a hospital—you feel like you are part of a club. There is a great sense of comradeship and events like this are an opportunity for us to meet and catch up. It definitely helps people in a very positive way. If you are apprehensive on arriving, you soon forget as everyone is so friendly and open. You leave happy.”

Professionals were on hand to deliver talks throughout the day to patients and carers covering wide ranging topics such as physical activity and fatigue, anxiety and stress management, and intimacy and relationships. A number of stalls provided information including:

  • Diet and healthy eating
  • Tenovus Cancer Care Sing With Us Project
  • Occupational therapy
  • Macmillan cancer support
  • Complementary therapy 
  • Finance, welfare rights and benefits advice

A special thank you to local café Tray Gourmet for generously providing refreshments and lunch for participants on the day.

Contributors
George Vasilopoulos