7 July 2021
The Macmillan Benefits Team at the Trust that runs Shropshire’s acute hospitals has secured over £8.5 million in financial help for people with cancer in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin over the last three years.
Jackie Machado and Kate Povall are Welfare Rights Officers based at the Hamar Centre at RSH
The incredible total raised by the team at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, has been increasing year-on-year and in last financial year totalled £3.6million.
Angela Pattison, Macmillan Welfare Rights Unit Manager, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and we are going from strength-to-strength as a service, year-on-year.
“Over the last three years we have received 2,088 referrals into the Macmillan Welfare Rights Service for the Shropshire area. These referrals were received from a mix of Cancer Nurse Specialists, self-referrals and external partners.
“As a service we work holistically with the patient and their families. The last 12 months have been hard for everyone.
“Ensuring patients are able to access support, advice and assistance with benefit applications and information to enable them to maximise their household income and make life a little easier through a difficult period is so important.”
Comments received by service users include:
“Would recommend Macmillan to anyone. Treated with care and sensitivity throughout.”
“I would just like to say how lovely and respectful all the staff were, it means a lot on this journey to have nice people around you.”
“Excellent service. I had no idea that I was eligible for any benefits. Thank you for all your help.”
Should anyone like assistance they can talk to their Cancer Nurse Specialist, the Macmillan Information Centre, email Shropshire.Macmillan@wolverhampton.gov.uk or call 01743 261369 and leave a message requesting a call back.