Macmillan Centre awarded Quality Environment Mark
13 August 2010
The Macmillan Centre at Chelsea and Westminster has been awarded a prestigious Quality Environment Mark after a recent review of its services for cancer patients and their carers.
The Macmillan Centre at Chelsea and Westminster has been awarded a prestigious Quality Environment Mark after a recent review of its services for cancer patients and their carers.
This award recognises excellence in the field of cancer information and support and takes into account the experience of people using the Centre as well as the policies and procedures used in its day-to-day running and its overall environment.
The review team, including cancer health professionals and cancer patients, were particularly impressed with the level of volunteer support within the Macmillan Centre.
Dr Russ Hargreaves, Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Manager, says: "We are fortunate to have a team of about 20 dedicated volunteers, many of whom have been with us since the Centre opened its doors in 2003.
“Without their support and commitment, we could not have developed into a centre which is now recognised for placing the cancer patient at the very heart of what we do."
The Centre has received almost 13,000 visits in the last seven years, not only from Chelsea and Westminster patients but from patients and their carers living throughout London and further afield.
Sheila Murphy, Macmillan Service Development Manager, says: “This is great news as the cancer information and support service at Chelsea and Westminster is consistently held up as an exemplar service.”
Catherine Gillespie, Macmillan Lead Nurse for Cancer & Palliative Care, agrees: "The Centre does a valuable job in working closely with the rest of the cancer and palliative care team.
“By offering counselling, written information and complementary therapies, we are able to offer a much more holistic service to our patients and their families.”