Cancer Care West reports surge in service users
Inis Aoibhinn provided nearly 7,500 bed-nights within a 12-month period.
Cancer Care West is once again drawing attention to the huge demand for their services.
The charity provides practical and emotional support services to anyone whose life has been affected by a cancer diagnosis. In 2022, the charity provided support to over 2,700 people from their centres in Galway and Letterkenny and provided nearly 7,500 bed-nights at Inis Aoibhinn, their residential facility at Galway University Hospital for patients undergoing radiotherapy. Also, nearly 100 people availed of the free transport service provided by the charity. Overall, demand for all the services provided by the charity has increased, a predicted outcome following the pandemic and indicative of the growing need for cancer services in general.
Richard Flaherty, CEO of the charity, noted that the surge in demand for Cancer Care West’s services post-pandemic brought significant challenges.
“Looking forward, we expect demand for our services will continue to increase, while the ongoing difficult economic conditions along with the increased cost of providing such specialised services means funding our work into the future will be a constant concern.”
Meantime the charity continues to innovate and grow its services. One of their key highlights during the year was the rollout of the Children United in Bereavement Support (CUBS) programme, an eight-week intervention for children aged 7 to 12 whose parent has died from cancer. Another key highlight was the launch of a cancer-rehabilitation service, offered by their specially trained exercise physiologist at their purpose-built gym in their support centre on Seamus Quirke road. The charity also introduced an expressive writing programme, giving participants the opportunity to process their cancer diagnosis through the medium of the written word.
The All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF) last year recognised the vital work carried out by Cancer Care West when they named them the Connacht Charity of the Year. This major national honour was awarded in recognition of the exceptional services that the charity has provided to cancer patients and their families on the west coast of Ireland for over 25 years.
All of Cancer Care West’s services are provided free of charge. If you would like to know more about those services, drop into their Support Centre or call them on 091-540040. If you would like to donate to Cancer Care West, go to www.cancercarewest.ie/donate.
