VOLUNTEERS across Worcestershire are currently unable to offer the face to face support they would usually provide for people living with cancer, but this hasn’t stopped them making sure they are there for some of the most vulnerable people during this pandemic.
Volunteers stopped providing face to face support to people living with cancer in late March, following the government’s advice to stay at home and for many people living with cancer to self-shield. Since the lockdown, Macmillan has reported around a quarter of the calls to their support line have been from cancer patients concerned about coronavirus.
With cancer patients more anxious now than ever, local volunteers like Patrick O’Mahony wanted to continue providing vital emotional support to people living with cancer and have quickly adapted to provide support over the phone.
Patrick, from Kempsey, is currently supporting two men living with cancer, one of who is nearing the end of his life.
“Both of the men I am currently supporting were directed to me at the start of the pandemic. One is a 68-year-old man who has a brain tumour and the second gentleman I support is a 69-year-old man who has bowel cancer. He has sadly been told he doesn’t have long left to live,” he said.
“As much as we want to be there physically for service users who are living on their own, especially those with terminal cancer, we know we can’t at this terrible time and that hurts us very much. This is why it is vital to let them know we are on the other end of the phone for them.”
Despite being at the end of a phone, Patrick admits support has its challenges and limits.
“I feel I give my best support face to face so I’ve had to make adjustments to enable me to transfer that support via the phone. On a face to face visit, I can see the clients face and almost feel their emotions and I know how to help my clients,” he said.
The 66-year-old currently volunteers for the Macmillan Worcestershire Buddy Scheme. Patrick first became a Macmillan volunteer in August 2013 and has been a loyal volunteer ever since, providing emotional and practical support to people living with cancer in Worcestershire.
Ben Toney, Macmillan volunteer manager for the West Midlands, said: “People living with cancer still need our support, perhaps more than ever. To ensure people living with cancer get the emotional support they need at this difficult time, we have moved quickly to be able to offer Telephone Buddying.
“This offers regular phone contact over a number of weeks from a volunteer buddy. We want to thank all of our incredibly dedicated volunteers, like Patrick, for how resilient and flexible they have been during these uncertain times.
Call the team on 07525 813018 or 07473 613712 between 9am and 5pm or e-mail [email protected] for more.
