The Christie NHS FT Annual Report & Accounts 2019-20

Clinical support services

support services or providing relevant information verbally and in booklet format etc. A key part of the role is to support patients experiencing hair loss through the side effects of treatment, providing them with emotional support, information and advice, as well as enabling them to access the wig room and other services to manage the practical element of hair loss. The wig room provides a drop in service five days per week and patients can usually collect their wig the same day. The Department for Work and Pensions attend on Thursday afternoon weekly to offer advice and support to service users. The centre also provides additional support in arranging weddings on site for our end of life patients. Chaplaincy The chaplaincy team is committed to supporting patients and visitors at a time when they may be experiencing challenges around their beliefs and identity. They are trained to help people of faith, or any individual, with questions around spirituality, meaning and value. The team are available for patients, visitors, staff and volunteers. The chapel and prayer room are always open and may be used for prayer, worship, meditation or quiet time. The multi-faith space in the chaplaincy suite is suitable for all faiths as well as those who do not have a particular religious belief. Art room The art room offers patients their care givers and our staff the opportunity to spend some time in a supportive and non-clinical safe environment, where they can experience a period of rest within which they are able to forget real world illness or work related pressures and reaffirm a confident sense of self-esteem, potentially learning a new skill.

Treatment unit also. We work closely with the Head and Neck Oncologists and Ear Nose and Throat Surgeons, being present at the weekly multidisciplinary team meetings and a number of joint outpatient clinics. The team have implemented a new model of treatment for patients with head and neck cancer, and as a result we see patients before, during and after treatment in line with current evidence and NICE guidelines. We provide instrumental voice and swallowing assessments and liaise with community teams to ensure optimum long term support for our patients. Transport and interpreters The transport and interpreter services are integral to operational services across The Christie. The transport service offers non emergency patient transport to all our patients. This often means patients who have no other means to travel to our services or have a medical reason which would affect their ability to drive or use other means of transportation are supported to attend their appointment at the Christie. The interpreter service has recently undergone a service review and continues to provide an enhanced interpreter service consisting of face to face, telephone and British Sign Language support to patients who have difficulty understanding English or have a hearing impairment. We continue to work with service providers to improve our services and to ensure patients receive the best experience. Cancer Information Centre (CIC) The cancer information centre provides a drop in service to offer support to patients and visitors. This can be in the form of listening to their concerns, signposting them to relevant

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