CLAN Shetland Reaches Out To Communities
CLAN Cancer Support will be visiting a number of health centres on the Shetland mainland as well as the outer islands of Whalsay, Yell and Unst during June and July, bringing the services it provides via its centre in Lerwick to the heart of outlying communities.
The service will give anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis the opportunity to access wellbeing support, information and signposting within their local community, reducing the time, stress and expense that can come with travelling to access vital support.
The programme began on Tuesday, June 12, at Walls Health Centre and people are welcome to drop in at any time, without need for an appointment.
Dorothy Jamieson, CLAN Cancer Support’s Wellbeing Centre Manager for Shetland believes this expansion of CLAN’s current services across Shetland is of key importance.
She said: “At CLAN we are committed to ensuring that people who live in remote, rural locations can access crucial support and information during what can be a difficult time in their lives.
“A cancer diagnosis can be a worrying time, juggling family life, work and travelling for appointments. It can also lead to people in rural locations feeling more isolated and unable to access the support that may be available to them in other locations.
“By working with local health centres, we aim to address these issues by reducing the distance people affected by a cancer diagnosis have to travel to speak to someone about their diagnosis, the support they are currently providing for a loved one or family member or when they have lost someone close to them.
“There is no need to book an appointment, however there is an option to book a specific time if you would prefer, and the service is provided free of charge.”
The programme will visit the following locations, with Walls & Bixter surgeries being visited month about:
Whalsay Health Centre, June 19
Scalloway Health Centre, June 21
Yell Health Centre, June 28
Unst Health Centre, June 28
Levenwick Health Centre, July 05
CLAN Shetland offers a drop-in service, for anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis, at its base in 20a St.Magnus Street, Lerwick from 10am-4pm on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. No prior booking is required.
For more information about CLAN Cancer Support in Shetland, please call Dorothy on 01595 697275, or email: dorothy.jamieson@clanhouse.org
