Gemma Peters: Incredible organisations that make cancer care better for everyone
Gemma Peters shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Putting the needs of people with cancer at the heart of everything we do is fundamental to our mission at Macmillan Cancer Support. People living with cancer consistently tell us that care and support should revolve around who you are and what you need to manage your cancer and treatment well.
As Chief Executive, I’m privileged to have many opportunities to meet with incredible organisations who share our vision to make cancer care better for everyone, especially those who have the greatest needs.
Last week I headed north to learn from local partners and community projects who are doing fantastic work to build stronger community relationships and lay the path to more equitable cancer care.
Visiting the team at the Macmillan Centre in County Durham, I saw the positive impact that working closely with communities and involving them in decision-making has had.
By shaping cancer support in response to local people’s needs, they have introduced new initiatives and services, such as the translation of lung health check information into the Sylheti language.
Similarly, when we visited Coping With Cancer North East, their support offer – from financial workshops to acupuncture and exercise classes recognises that cancer can touch every part of someone’s life.
I heard the same challenges being raised. Underfunding of critical services for local people being a catalyst for delayed diagnoses. And the urgent need to shape and deliver cancer support that reflects the diversity of beliefs, attitudes and cultural needs of different communities.
At Macmillan Cancer Support, we believe that by making cancer care better for those of us who have the worst experiences, we will make things better for everyone.
I’m optimistic that by working in collaboration with communities we can better understand needs at a local level and together find creative ways to ensure people can access the support that best suits them and their lives.
To round off my visit I met with Marc Evans MSc MBA FCILT AFNI and the team at The Fishermen’s Mission to see how our partnership is addressing some of the unique challenges faced amongst the local fishing community to help make healthcare more accessible.
It was great to hear how they are bringing nurses and screening programmes to the quay when fishing crews come on land, as we know that getting an early diagnosis and starting treatment sooner is critical to better outcomes.
Big thank you to our hosts including team members and service users at Join the Dots, the Sunderland Bangladeshi International Centre and The Fishermen’s Mission for welcoming Karen Watson, Steven McIntosh and I on what was a really inspiring trip.
I left feeling more certain than ever that together we can transform cancer care for a more hopeful future where everyone with cancer gets the best quality care and support, focused on what matters most to them as individuals.”
Source: Gemma Peters/LinkedIn
Gemma Peters is the Chief Executive Officer of Macmillan Cancer Support. She was previously the CEO of Blood Cancer UK. She has expertise in cancer research, patient care, and clinical best practices.
