

Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys
Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys County Council are working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support on a three-year 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 supported 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.
In addition, the programme will evaluate an electronic, holistic, needs
assessment that will enable the patients numerous needs to be identified
and addressed within their individual care plans.
This support could cover things like information on:
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welfare benefits
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returning to work
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making a will
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social care packages and carers assessments
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access to occupational therapy or lymphedema health services
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how to tell family members or children about a diagnosis or treatment
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dealing with tiredness, fatigue or pain management
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nutritional advice
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best types of exercise
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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 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 or call Sue Ling on 01597 826043 to have a chat and find out more about how your story will help shape the final model of care.
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:
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Plan on a Page which explains simply what the ICJ in Powys programme is about.
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End of Stage One Report which is a detailed 32 page document.
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End of Stage One Infographic which sums up the content of the report. (above)
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Compendium of patient stories which shares 15 stories of both Powys people living with cancer and those who have cared for loved ones.
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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.
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Theory of Change Report - which describes the changes the programme wants to achieve and the ways in which these will be achieved.
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Caring About Cancer in Powys - our newsletter Issue 1 Spring 2022.
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Top Ten Tips - this poster offers some tips and advice to others about what worked when going through a cancer journey.
PRESS RELEASES
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Press release 1 - Improving the Cancer Journey programme to start in Powys
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Press release 2 - People with cancer in Powys invited to share their experiences
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Press release 3 - Tim shares his cancer journey at official launch
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Press release 4 - Money matters service here for cancer patients
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Press release 5 - Webpage to improve knowledge of Cancer Programme
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Press release 6 - Cancer pilots to co-ordinate care and support launched in Powys
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Press release 7 - Tim’s exhibition to raise funds for cancer charities
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Press release 8 - Tim's exhibition raises over £2k for cancer charities
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Press release 9 - Cancer Patients share their stories
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Press release 10 - Books About Cancer available to borrow from Powys libraries
In the video below Dylan Owen, Head of Commissioning at Powys County Council, explains how the programme came about and what it will mean for people living with cancer in Powys. For more videos like this please visit our You Tube Channel.

We'd like to invite you to drop in at one of our 2022 Summer Information Days.
See our poster here.

