Cancer information hub to open at Cork’s Bon Secours

THE Irish Cancer Society (ICS) announced plans yesterday to open one of its family-friendly cancer information hubs in a Cork city hospital.

The Daffodil Centre — the first of its kind in Cork — will be based at the Bon Secours Hospital on College Road.

A full-time cancer nurse, funded by the ICS, will be hired over the coming weeks and a core group of up to 40 trained volunteers will be recruited to help staff the facility, which it is hoped will be open before the end of the year.

While it is widely accepted that cancer patients receive a lot of information upon diagnosis, the Daffodil Centre concept was founded to help families and relatives with information and support.

The centres are based within publicly funded or private hospitals and the first opened in Galway University Hospital in July 2009.

The ICS announced plans before its flag-day last month to develop five more such centres around the country.

Management at the Bon Secours worked with the ICS and agreed the location and layout for the city’s first Daffodil centre, which will be located near its main entrance, so that anyone with concerns about cancer can simply drop in.

The Bon Secours has provided oncology services for almost 40 years. It has a large multi-disciplinary team of over 40 cancer experts in a range of cancer areas, supported by pastoral and palliative care staff.

Its medical oncology service is one of only three oncology centres in Ireland to be accredited by the European Society of Medial Oncology.

lICS National Cancer Helpline Freefone 1800 200 700.