A NEW DEDICATED information and support room for cancer patients receiving radiation therapy treatment has been opened at Cork University Hospital (CUH).
The new room, located in the radiation therapy department, will ensure patients and family members can receive information about their treatment and support in a relaxed setting at an appointed time.
Patients due to start radiation therapy will meet the information and support radiation therapist who will explain the treatment and planning involved, as well as the expected side effects and the support structures and services available to them.
Patients can also phone the Information and Support Room on (021) 4920054.
Clara Cremin, information and support radiation therapist at CUH, said patients often needed reassurance about their treatment as it could be an anxious time for them.
Now that the Information and Support Room is open, patients are given the time and space to be reassured. They are, therefore, more relaxed and less anxious about their forthcoming treatment. Patients can also be referred to other services such as medical social work, psych-oncology and counselling if required, she explained.
A DVD, Understanding Radiation Therapy - A Patient Pathway, which was written and directed by radiation oncology department staff at CUH, is also available to assist and educate patients who are considering or preparing for radiotherapy. The DVD is offered on loan to all new patients.
The Friends of CUH have funded the furnishing of the new room.
Chairwoman of the Friends of CUH, Margaret Canning, said: "Making the hospital experience easier and less stressful for patients and their families is a key objective for the Friends of CUH.
"This new facility fits perfectly with this objective and we are delighted to be able to contribute and participate practically toward this very worthwhile project."
