WIREDGOV

Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford yesterday (Monday August 3) paid tribute to the work of Maggie’s cancer centre based at Singleton Hospital, Swansea.

The Welsh Government provided £1.5m towards the development of Maggie's South West Wales, which was officially opened by the First Minister in December 2011.

Maggie's centres are a network of drop-in centres across the UK, which aim to help anyone who has been affected by cancer. They are not intended as a replacement for conventional cancer therapy, but as a caring environment that can provide support, information and practical advice.

They offer free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their families and friends. The Swansea centre provides cancer support specialists, benefits advisors, nutritionists and psychologists who can support patients.

Visiting the centre, Professor Drakeford said:

“The work of this charity is a fantastic example of how the third sector and NHS Wales can and should work together to meet the needs of patients.

“Maggie’s complements the work of the NHS but is also very different. The support Maggie’s offers is about starting from the point of view of the patient and responding to their individual situations.

“My hope is this ongoing collaboration can continue to support society’s wider efforts to tackle the burden of cancer on individuals and the health service.

“A recent survey carried out by Macmillan Cancer Support showed 89% of patients rated their care in Wales as either excellent or very good. This is a credit to our immensely dedicated NHS staff and to cancer support services like those Maggie’s offer.”