Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys

Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys County Council are working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support on a programme called “Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys”.

The aim is to ensure that everyone living with cancer in Powys gets the right help and support to live their life as fully as they can, by providing them with the practical, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social support they want or need so they can achieve what matters most to them.

Cancer is classed as one of the Big 4 diseases within the Powys Health and Care strategy. In Powys there are just under a thousand people a year diagnosed with cancer. With improvements in cancer care treatment and drugs, it is now often the case that people are living longer, and well, with cancer, and, as a result, it is important that their health and well-being needs are met.

The programme aims to develop a model of care similar to one developed

in Glasgow. The model will offer everyone who is diagnosed with cancer a

personalised and supportive conversation (called a holistic needs assessment)

with a key worker who will be able to discuss and support all their needs and

offer advice, information and signposting in a co-ordinated way.

This support could cover things like information on:

welfare benefits
returning to work
making a will
social care packages and carers assessments
access to occupational therapy or lymphodema health services
how to tell family members or children about a diagnosis or treatment
dealing with tiredness, fatigue or pain management
nutritional advice
best types of exercise
local support groups

If you’ve not been offered/completed a holistic needs assessment

and you’d like to do so, please contact either PAVO or the

Bracken Trust. If you are caring for a loved one you are also

welcome to get in touch with Credu who support unpaid carers in the county.

See our Useful Links tab (below) for contact details and see our

'Support Closer to Home' leaflet / our poster here

The experiences of people living with cancer are at the heart of shaping this project. If you would like to share your story – either as someone living with cancer or a family member, please get in touch. You can email the project team at ICJPowys@powys.gov.uk

Our ICJ documents

As the programme progresses we’ll add information and key documents to the page to keep you updated. Please take a look at our:

Plan on a Page which explains simply what the ICJ in Powys programme is about.
End of Stage One Report which is a detailed 32 page document.
End of Stage One Infographic which sums up the content of the report. (above)
Compendium of patient stories which shares 15 stories of both Powys people living with cancer and those who have cared for loved ones.
Key Themes – this poster highlights the top ten themes that came from the 40+ stories that people living with cancer in Powys shared with us.
Theory of Change Report - which describes the changes the programme wants to achieve and the ways in which these will be achieved.
Caring About Cancer in Powys - our newsletter Issue 1 Spring 2022.
Top Ten Tips - this poster offers some tips and advice to others about what worked when going through a cancer journey.
End of Year Two Report which is a succinct 12 page document.
Caring About Cancer in Powys - our newsletter Issue 2 Autumn 2022.
A blog produced in conjunction with PAVO which introduces Penny, the new ICJ connector

PRESS RELEASES

Press release 1 - Improving the Cancer Journey programme to start in Powys
Press release 2 - People with cancer in Powys invited to share their experiences
Press release 3 - Tim shares his cancer journey at official launch
Press release 4 - Money matters service here for cancer patients
Press release 5 - Webpage to improve knowledge of Cancer Programme
Press release 6 - Cancer pilots to co-ordinate care and support launched in Powys
Press release 7 - Tim’s exhibition to raise funds for cancer charities
Press release 8 - Tim's exhibition raises over £2k for cancer charities
Press release 9 - Cancer Patients share their stories
Press release 10 - Books About Cancer available to borrow from Powys libraries
Press release 11 - South Powys residents Invited to Cancer Information Days
Press release 12 - Residents Invited to Cancer Information Days
Press release 13 - Cancer events help join the dots for patients
Press release 14 - 'Books About Cancer' resource reminder
Press release 15 - Cancer Canal walks on offer during September
Press release 16 - Cancer programme supports parkwalk promotion

In the video below Dylan Owen, Head of Commissioning at Powys County Council up until September 2022, explains how the programme came about and what it will mean for people living with cancer in Powys. Both the council’s Welfare Benefits Team and the ASSIST team (Adult Social Services Information and Support team) are key to the support offered as part of the programme.

From blue badges to support with PIP applications the Welfare Benefits Team support Powys residents living with cancer to access the benefits they are entitled to.
The ASSIST team exists to simplify and ensure care and support is coordinated when someone needs it whether that’s around discharge from hospital, help at home with daily living or getting home adaptations or access to community transport. Click on the links in the Useful Links Tab (below) for more details.

For more videos from both professionals and people living with cancer visit our You Tube Channel.

Below: Chair of Powys County Council, Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe greets delivery partners and ICJ sponsor for the programme at one of the summer events. Left to right - Marion Baker (Bracken Trust), Sharon Healey (PAVO) and Becky Evans (Credu) and Dr Ruth Corbally, Macmillan GP Cancer Lead and the Clinical Lead for Cancer for Powys Teaching Health Board and ICJ Sponsor. Tim - a Welshpool resident - gave a speech at the Welshpool event. Read it below.

Read Tim's speech here