21 November 2011
First meeting of brain tumour support group
A new support group is being set up for patients and carers in north and mid Essex who have been affected by brain tumours.
Its first meeting will be in the Lantern Suite of Farleigh Hospice, Chelmsford, on Thursday 8 December with a second meeting at the Postgraduate Medical Centre, Colchester General Hospital, on Tuesday 10 January. Both meetings will be held between 5pm and 7pm.
The North and Mid Essex Brain Tumour Support Group is being set up by Elaine Westall, who since April has worked as a Macmillan neuro-oncology clinical nurse specialist at both Essex County Hospital, Colchester, and Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.
“The group will offer support to patients and carers affected by brain tumours, especially gliomas and other aggressive tumours,” she said.
“It is the result of responses received after a questionnaire was sent out to about 40 patients to ask if they would like a support group. The level of feedback was good and most patients thought it was a good idea.
“The North and Mid Essex Brain Tumour Support Group has the backing of the charities Brain Tumour UK and Macmillan Cancer Relief.
“I am hoping that volunteer transport services will be available to help patients and carers without transport to get to and from meetings.”
Mrs Westall also plans to work with Meningioma UK to set up another support group for people affected by this benign type of tumour.
She is the first neuro-oncology clinical nurse specialist to work in north and mid Essex and her role involves offering advice, support and information to patients with primary brain and spinal tumours. She currently has a case load of about 75 patients, with 1-4 new referrals every week.
The North Essex and Mid Essex Brain Tumour Support Group will meet 5pm-7pm on a monthly basis, alternating between the Chelmsford and Colchester venues.
The Chelmsford meeting will be held on the first Thursday of one month followed by the Colchester meeting on the first Tuesday of the next.
First meeting
Anyone wanting more information about The North and Mid Essex Brain Tumour Support Group should contact Elaine Westall on 07919 304 034, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
Please note that because she is often busy with patients, she is not always able to answer the phone immediately but will respond to messages as soon as possible.
Alternatively, she can be contacted by email at elaine.westall@nhs.net
For further information:
Contact Mark Prentice at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust on 01206 742752.
ENDS
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