Patients with cancer can access support when they need it thanks to a new dedicated helpline being launched by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) this week.
The ESNEFT Cancer Support Helpline is for anyone with a cancer diagnosis who has questions about their care and has been developed in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The Trust’s lead cancer nurse Sarah Orr said:
“ESNEFT has the wellbeing of its patients at the heart of all it does and we hope this helpline will provide a level of reassurance to our cancer patients during these difficult times. We are here for you.”
The helpline is being staffed on both the Ipswich and Colchester hospital sites by experienced and skilled staff from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, but it is hoped it may become a seven-day service.
If patients call with a clinical query, the call handler will either signpost the patient to their own clinical team, or they will ask the team to contact the patient directly, or they may be able to answer the question themselves.
Patients who fall unwell while on chemotherapy should call the number listed on their Chemotherapy Alert cards – at Ipswich, this will be via the Acute Oncology Service, and at Colchester, this will be via The Collingwood Centre.
Ipswich patients can call the ESNEFT Cancer Support Helpline on 01473 703008, and Colchester patients can call on 01206 745330.
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