Publish date: 15 July 2026
A Macmillan cancer support service delivered by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has supported more than 700 people across Northumberland and North Tyneside in its first year.
The Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service, based at Wansbeck General Hospital in Ashington, marked its first anniversary after providing vital information, emotional support and practical guidance to people affected by cancer — including patients, families and healthcare staff.
Between June 2025 and May 2026, the service recorded 1,813 interactions with people affected by cancer, helping 714 individual users. The team also made 1,682 referrals and signposts to additional support and attended or hosted 54 community events across the region.
The service is open to anyone affected by cancer — including those living with a diagnosis, people recovering from treatment, carers, relatives, those bereaved, healthcare professionals and individuals looking to reduce their risk of cancer.
It offers a welcoming space for people to talk openly, ask questions and access personalised support based on what matters most to them.
The team provides guidance on a wide range of topics, including:
- Signs and symptoms of cancer and understanding diagnoses
- Treatment options and managing side effects
- Living with and beyond cancer
- Emotional wellbeing and coping with cancer
- Financial concerns, including benefits and money advice
- Work, caring responsibilities and practical challenges
- Planning for the future
- Local support services and community groups
- Cancer prevention and reducing risk
As well as offering direct support, the service helps connect people to specialist services, such as benefits advice, local support groups and national charities.
The team has also built a strong presence within local communities, delivering health awareness events, support groups and information drop-ins across Northumberland and North Tyneside to ensure people can access help closer to home.
Lisa Gibbons, who was supported by the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service following a breast cancer diagnosis and a single mastectomy, said: “I contacted the service because I needed support with a breast prosthesis, after finding it difficult trying to find something suitable. The team listened to what I needed and quickly helped me access the right support through the prosthetics service at North Tyneside General Hospital.
“I had my operation in 2023 and, like many people after cancer treatment, I was still adjusting to the changes it brought. Having someone to talk to who understood and could point me in the right direction made a real difference.
“The team have been incredibly helpful and reassuring. Knowing there was someone there to support me when I needed it helped me feel less alone and more confident moving forward.”
Amanda Walshe, lead cancer nurse at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “I am incredibly proud of this service and everything the team has achieved in its first 12 months. The team has provided invaluable non-clinical support to people living with and beyond cancer, offering practical advice, emotional support and signposting to services such as welfare benefits, community organisations and local support groups.
“By providing practical, emotional and welfare support, the team is helping patients navigate the challenges of a cancer diagnosis and ensuring they receive the right support at the right time.
“In its first year alone, the service has helped patients access more than £1.26 million in financial support they were entitled to, making a real difference to individuals and families across our communities. This is a great example of the high-quality, person-centred care we are committed to providing across Northumbria Healthcare."
Fiona Cook, Macmillan information and support manager at Northumbria Healthcare, added: “I am incredibly proud of the compassionate care and support provided by our Macmillan Information and Support Coordinators.
“They have supported hundreds of people by offering a listening ear, alongside vital emotional support, practical advice, and personalised guidance.
“Their empathy and dedication ensure that anyone affected by cancer is truly heard and supported in a way that reflects what matters most to them.”
Natalie Thompson, Macmillan professional engagement & improvement lead for the north of England, said: "A cancer diagnosis can turn someone's world upside down, and no one should have to face that journey alone. Macmillan Cancer Support is proud to work with Northumbria Healthcare to ensure more people affected by cancer can access trusted information, practical advice and emotional support closer to home.
“We hope this service becomes a welcoming place where people feel informed, supported and empowered throughout their cancer journey, knowing they do not have to face cancer alone."
By providing easy access to trusted information and compassionate support, the service is helping people feel more informed, more confident and less alone.
As it moves into its second year, the team aims to further expand its reach, strengthen community connections and ensure that everyone affected by cancer across Northumberland and North Tyneside knows where to turn for support.
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