Vocational Rehabilitation for people living with cancer
Shaw Trust, MacMillan Cancer Support and the The Christie in Manchester are working together to provide employment advice and support to people living with cancer.
Research has revealed that over half of people diagnosed with cancer have to give up work or education, change role or change hours as a direct result of their diagnosis. Feedback has also highlighted that people can feel abandoned and unsure of where to turn for help.*
- 106,000 people of working age are diagnosed with cancer in the UK each year. There are an estimated 728,000 working age people living with cancer in the UK**
- Many patients are returning to work without any information or rehabilitation advice – less than 50% of patients are advised by cancer doctors about impact of treatment on their work **
- 50% of patients are not offered flexible working arrangements and 80% of employers are not aware that cancer is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act**
Shaw Trust Vocational Rehabilitation Services, The Christie, and MacMillan Cancer Support have come together to pilot a service in the Greater Manchester area to help change this by developing new approaches and by building on existing services.
The project will run from the The Christie hospital in Manchester, and look to address this problem and ensure patients receive the information, advice and support they need.
The pilot project incorporates four different levels of help, from information on the support available, to one-to-one support and signposting through helplines and websites, self-management programmes during and after treatment and specialist services via Shaw Trust advisers.
If you are living with cancer and need employment help and advice click here
Call our advice Worker, Richard Hunt, on 0161 918 7588 or 07971 459103
or email Richard.Hunt@Christie.nhs.uk for free confidential support.
* Macmillan Jan-Feb 2010 online survey of 1,019 people living with cancer (either currently or have had cancer in the past)** http://www.ncsi.org.uk/work-finance
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