About Us
The Management Committee Stanraer
Chair: Jill Wheeldon
Minutes/committee secretary: Elspeth Jamieson
Fundraising/social secretary: Jean Ross
Treasurer: Henry McFadzean
Committee Stranraer: Anne McDonald, Jane Sloan, Margaret Young, Kirsteen Dickson, Chris Cain, Elma Walker
Macmillan Cancer Support and the NHS are also represented.
The Management Committee Newton Stewart
Chair: Jill Wheeldon
Secretary: Liz Hamilton
Treasurer: Chris Cain
Committee Newton Stewart: Rose Christie, Joan Greenwood, Nan-Marie Henry, Elma Walker
A few words of introduction from our chairman, Jill Wheeldon.
The Scottish Guidelines on Cancer Care (1994) state that “good Palliative Care is assisted by the availability of support organisations for patients and patients’ carers.” Dumfries and Galloway Health Board has consistently placed emphasis on developing cancer care. Stranraer Cancer Drop in Centre Association was created to supply information and support for people with cancer, their carers, friends and relations – in fact anyone touched by cancer and other serious illnesses.
Regular meetings for these people were held by Irene Hunter, a district nurse who recognised and responded to need. Then, at a public meeting on 24th October 1998, the extent of local support for her initiative became apparent and from this the Drop in Centre was developed. Initial funding came from generous public donation. Grants followed from local and national bodies. In particular Macmillan Cancer Support has provided funding over several years. Currently our main source of funding is the local community, through donations, individual fund raising events and our own activities.
In planning the development of the Centre and to help in formulating the vision of what it could become, we visited the Maggie’s Centre in Edinburgh and Drop in Centres in Ayrshire. We talked to people involved in cancer care and treatment and to those affected by it. We studied the literature on palliative care. Macmillan Cancer Support were, and still are, an invaluable source of advice and support. We adapt and use their policies and procedures wherever possible and they are represented on our management committee. One of our managers was involved in the development of the Cancer Information and Support Centre at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and we continue to work closely with them.
Our service began in the Social Services Family Unit, moving to the Waverley Medical Centre when it opened in 2002. In September 2006, we moved again – to a purpose built suite of rooms, with separate access, in the new Galloway Community Hospital. For this we are indebted to the Health Board, the local Committee of the Order of St John and Macmillan Cancer Support. Another significant development occurred in the spring of 2008, when after a lengthy discussion period, the NHS took over responsibility for the employment of our two managers, though not for the management of the Centre itself.
In May 2011, in response to a perceived local need, we opened our new Centre at 23, Victoria Street, Newton Stewart. We have beautifully furnished and well equipped accommodation, as Nan-Marie Henry had very kindly offered us the use of her "Lighter Life" premises for one day each week. The number of client visits is increasing gradually and the enthusiastic committee has planned a number of fund and profile raising events.
In both Centres we can offer access to a wide and ever- expanding range of information, resources and services - from reflexology to financial advice, from yoga to cognitive behavioural therapy. For all of this the management committee is enormously grateful to our managers, to the professional support we enlist, to the Friends of the Association and to our hard working band of volunteers who give so generously of their time and energy.
I feel proud to be associated with the Centres. I love the life affirming warmth and humour and the continuing care and understanding to be found there. There’s always privacy for a personal consultation, but lots of people gain tremendous support from a chat and coffee round the kitchen table. I have met many brave and inspiring people here and among professional health workers I have found the same idealism, vision, dedication and commitment that I remember in so many of the teachers I was privileged to work with.
P.S. Did you know that the snowdrop symbol on our logo means “Hope”?
Opening Times
Stranraer
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
10am - 3pm
Newton Stewart
Thursday
10am - 3pm
Patient Comments
Galloway Community Hospital