A charity which offered almost £200,000 in monetary assist to most cancers sufferers in Lanarkshire final yr is warning of the impression of rising price of residing on individuals contending with sickness.
Macmillan Most cancers Assist says it's “bracing itself for a flood of individuals on the lookout for assist” amid pressures together with hovering power prices – however is emphasising to sufferers and their households that “you don’t have to do that alone”.
The organisation offers a spread of assist, info and grants for individuals residing with most cancers, together with funding a welfare rights service which is run by North Lanarkshire Council.
Obtain the Lanarkshire Dwell app in the present day
The Lanarkshire Dwell app is offered to obtain now.
Get all of the information out of your space – in addition to options, leisure, sport and the most recent on Lanarkshire’s restoration from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.
The free obtain options the most recent breaking information and unique tales, and lets you customise your web page to the sections that matter most to you.
Head to the App Retailer and by no means miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android
New figures from Macmillan present that the charity gave virtually £124,000 to 345 most cancers sufferers in North Lanarkshire throughout 2021, and greater than £66,500 to 185 sufferers in neighbouring South Lanarkshire through the 12-month interval for important prices together with heating payments and journey to hospital appointments.
A complete of £1.5 million was distributed to assist individuals throughout Scotland deal with “the triple risk of the price of residing disaster, Covid’s monetary impression and the surprising prices incurred attributable to a most cancers analysis” – and the charity is continuous to induce anybody in want to achieve out because it anticipates a rise in requests for assist.
With power costs growing by as a lot as 50 per cent following this month’s value cap change, the charity nationally has additionally made obtainable an extra £3.5m in emergency funds to pay “escalating gas payments, in recognition of the extraordinary challenges going through most cancers sufferers in 2022”.
Macmillan Scotland’s head of partnerships Janice Preston stated: “I don’t assume we’ve even touched the floor of how catastrophically this month’s enhance in residing prices goes to have an effect on individuals going through a life-threatening sickness.
“These [2021 Lanarkshire grant] figures exhibit how badly a most cancers analysis can impression an individual financially – it shouldn’t be like this and we need to make it possible for individuals with most cancers know Macmillan are right here for them, no matter it takes.
“We’re urging individuals residing with most cancers throughout the nation to achieve out and search assist. You don’t should wrestle and also you’re not alone there’s assist and assist right here for you by calling our assist line or contacting your native welfare rights crew.”
Mandy McRorie, who's a welfare rights officer for the Macmillan North Lanarkshire recommendation service, agreed concerning the growing impression of monetary pressures on individuals coping with a most cancers analysis.
She stated: “Decrease-income most cancers sufferers are already feeling the strain of upper payments and bills attributable to a analysis, however they’re now underneath much more stress to cowl residing prices.
“Lots of people have labored their entire lives and by no means wanted to ask for assist earlier than; they don't know the place to show to, or what they're entitled to.”
She instructed how the service had lately supported a newly-diagnosed North Lanarkshire woman, aged in her 70s, by efficiently making use of for a £465 grant in the direction of power payments.
Mandy stated: “With the rising power prices, she was fearful about placing her heating on an excessive amount of and was carrying extra clothes simply to remain heat; we mentioned how the grant would assist to pay her increased payments and the award is a large assist in the direction of retaining the girl’s residence heat for the following couple of months.
“That’s what we’re right here for – to remove that fear, nervousness and to make all the things a bit simpler for individuals, discover out what their wants are and assist them all through their most cancers journey. I see the distinction that a Macmillan grant could make to somebody’s life on daily basis.”
The charity’s monetary suggestions embrace letting power suppliers know that consumption might go up or family revenue might go down if a affected person must take sick depart, plus asking about their “precedence companies register” which may present additional protections and adaptions for most cancers sufferers; plus discovering out about maximising revenue via advantages and grant recommendation.
All Macmillan companies in North and South Lanarkshire will be accessed by contacting the native crew on 01698 332607, whereas the charity’s free assist line on 0808 808 0000 can also be open from 8am to 8pm seven days every week the place particular person scientific, sensible and monetary info is offered.
Many individuals following a most cancers analysis can apply for a one-off, means-tested grant by chatting with Macmillan crew members together with nurses, or to a different healthcare skilled who may help them apply for a grant from the charity; extra info is offered at www.macmillan.org.uk.
*Do not miss the most recent headlines from round Lanarkshire. Signal as much as our newsletters right here.
And do you know Lanarkshire Dwell had its personal app? Obtain yours totally free right here.