Cancer Carer Support

[poppett]

If anyone is struggling out there trying to get help caring for a cancer patient, then register with Carers uk They have a chat room and forums specialising in carers in general. Grants are also available for items which would make the carers life better. Crossroads are also there to help provide respite time for the carer and Macmillan have a citizens advice bureau based at Raigmore Hospital and can fill in forms to ensure all benefits are being paid to both patient and carer, also Grants are available from them too for items to make life more comfortable or for extra travelling expenses not covered by the nhs highland scheme.
Good luck to you all and remember to "take time to care for the carers"

[cuddlepop]

Poppet Fran on a previous thread was trying to set up a local support group as she too knows someone close affected by cancertoo.Dont know how she got on.
I use the Community Care Forum here on Skye and there wonderful.There's a great chat room on the Princess Royal Trust main web site too for carer's from all walks of life.:D
Its a great comfort just speaking to people in similar situations.

[Penelope Pitstop]

If anyone is struggling out there trying to get help caring for a cancer patient, then register with Carers uk They have a chat room and forums specialising in carers in general. Grants are also available for items which would make the carers life better. Crossroads are also there to help provide respite time for the carer and Macmillan have a citizens advice bureau based at Raigmore Hospital and can fill in forms to ensure all benefits are being paid to both patient and carer, also Grants are available from them too for items to make life more comfortable or for extra travelling expenses not covered by the nhs highland scheme.
Good luck to you all and remember to "take time to care for the carers"

Hi Poppett

Is this just for cancer patient carers or is it for all carers?

Thanks

[poppett]

MacMillan citizens advice bureau at Raigmore is specifically for helping cancer sufferers and their carers get their just entitlements without hassle, and the grant scheme is a follow on from that
Crossroads is for anyone who cares to be provided with respite, usually for two hours at a time
Carers uk is for anyone who is a carer
Princess Royal Trust is for anyone too.
Hope this is helpful

[Fran]

Also, The cancer unit at raigmore..the oncology unit, supplies key fobs to cancer patients during the course of their chemotherapy, to get free parking at the hospital. It is a £20 deposit which is refunded to you later when you hand the fob back. Maggies centre at Raigmore is very very good for advice on anything to do with cancer and caring and have great l.eaflets i would love to see a building like that in caithness for cancer patients and their carers to get support and coffee whenever needed. I just enjoy sitting in there, its such a lovely place, and there is always someone to chat with.Have been into the advice bureau, the macmillan one, but found the national phone line a good help. Cancer patients get extra benefits straight away under the special rules.Also blue disabled card for parking.
We came back tonight from raigmore after himself was in Raigmore for his overnight chemotherapy.

I still intend to start a cancer support group in Wick, much needed for cancer patients and their families in caithness.I am working on it and will let you know when I get any further. Macmillans cancer care also have a good web site and chat room on cancers.

[poppett]

Keep us posted Fran as a local Cancer support group is MUCH needed. There are so many folk who do not know where to access help from and if you are not into how the benefits system works it`s a nightmare.
My husband already had his blue badge from an accident some years ago before his cancer was diagnosed and when we attend his clinic in Edinburgh it is almost impossible to access a disabled bay because the staff use them. There is a barriered car park which you use the help call and give the badge number over a cctv with speaker, but if the security man is at the loo, on his break or at an emergency somewhere else it causes mayhem to get out without causing a riot with the queue building up behind all trying to get out with paid for tickets....sometimes it`s easier to buy a ticket, but why should we have to if we are entitled to park for free.

[Fran]

Poppett, can you not get a free key fob thing for parking at Edinburgh infirmary as you do at raigmore in inverness. they have the system there.Ask your clinic or oncologist next time you are there. itis so hard to get a disabled space but you can park in the ordinary car park for free.

[Angela]

Poppett, is it ERI or the Western your husband attends?

[poppett]

Angela, its the Western General we go to. It`s a wonderful place, just not enough parking and too much wasted grassland round the grounds!