£2.5m Reasons Why Macmillan Money Matters
Published on:
23
June 2008
Cancer patients across the Forth Valley have been helped to access more than £2.5 million over the past year thanks to Macmillan Money Matters (MMM).
Macmillan Money Matters is a benefits advice service that provides advice and assistance to people affected by cancer, their family or carer at a time when they need it most.
This partnership initiative, between Macmillan Cancer Support, Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk Councils and NHS Forth Valley, was established in March 2007 with 2-year start up funding of £250,000 from Macmillan Cancer Support; it has quickly established itself as an essential service helping over 900 cancer patients and their families across Forth Valley.
To celebrate its success, people supported by the service together with healthcare professionals and representatives from the three local Council's, NHS Forth Valley and Macmillan Cancer Support, gathered on Wednesday June 18 at Stirling Royal Infirmary Conference Centre to review achievements and to start discussions on how to build on this success in the future.
Speaking at the event Stirling Council Chief Executive Keith Yates said: "The prevailing message from people who have benefited by the project is that at a time of crisis and increased anxiety, the last thing a cancer patient and their family needs is money worries.
"Macmillan Money Matters has gone a long way to reassure and help families at that difficult time. They do this by addressing the financial pressures on the family allowing them to concentrate on supporting their loved one."
The Macmillan Money Matters team of 4 Project Workers accept referrals from health professionals, carers, family or friends. They will meet people wherever it is most convenient, in the patient's home, at hospital or hospice and help people identify and make claims for the benefits or funds they may be entitled to, they also help out with money management issues such as priority debts like rent, council tax or utilities
"Previous to Macmillan Money Matters we used to fill in the forms ourselves, on average we get 5-6 new patients a week, so we were probably spending an hour filling in each form, so roughly that's about 7 hours on forms per week. Since Macmillan Money Matters has come in we have freed up that time so we can now spend that time with the patients," said Jennifer Wilson, Macmillan Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist.
"I'm taking care of my wife who has got cancer and you don't realise the expense that's involved. The Macmillan Nurse put me in touch with Macmillan Money Matters. They have been very helpful. Without them and without the money we got, we'd be in pretty dire straits", said Terry, Patient Carer.
For further information on Macmillan Money Matter please contact Brenda Mitchell on 01786 442438 or email: mitchellb@stirling.gov.uk
Picture Shows: Celebrating its success and looking to the future at the Macmillan Money Matters conference was (L to R) Stirling Council Chief Executive Keith Yates; Marion Reddie (Head of Community Care Services, Falkirk Council); Councillor Kenneth Earle (Clackmannanshire Council's Portfolio Holder Partnership); Margaret Duffy (NHS Forth Valley Chief Operating Officer) and St John Hattersley (Head of Service Development Macmillan Cancer Support)