Irish Cancer Society Launches Daffodil Day 2011
09 February 2011
Today at the launch of the 2011 Daffodil Day national campaign sponsored by Dell Ireland, in the Convention Centre Dublin, over 400 volunteer community organisers heard how Irish Cancer Society specialist cancer care nurses responded to 21,000 enquiries to the Cancer Information Service (which includes the National Cancer Helpline Freefone 1800 200 700) in 2010. This was an increase of 10% on the number of enquiries responded to in 2009.
Approximately 41% of enquiries were from newly diagnosed people in the 40+ age group who were seeking further information on treatment options, including access to clinical trials after a secondary diagnosis of cancer, side effects relating to treatment, emotional support and how the health system works. Other key issues that emerge for people who have already gone through cancer treatment relate to survivorship and living with the long term side effects of treatment.
Financial worries account for the fifth most common reason why people call the National Cancer Helpline. In 2010, the Society provided over €900,000 in financial aid to over 1,600 people with cancer (in comparison to 1,300 people in 2009) who had experienced hardship arising from a cancer diagnosis or treatment. This financial aid was provided when all other avenues of State benefit had been unable to help (e.g. social welfare assistance, disability allowance, corporation, or community welfare grants).
Speaking in advance of the launch of Daffodil Day, John McCormack, CEO, Irish Cancer Society said “Ireland’s cancer rate is one of the highest in the world. One in three of us will be diagnosed with cancer during our life time and it is estimated that by 2020, 40,000 new cases will be diagnosed. These stark figures mean that there is an ever increasing demand for the direct patient care services provided by the Irish Cancer Society.”
“We are responding to more and more calls through our National Cancer Helpline. We are also lending more and more financial assistance in specific hardship circumstances where family finances are unable to cope, through our financial aid programme. In 2010 the Irish Cancer Society night nurses delivered over 7,000 nights of care to over 2,000 patients and their families coping with the advanced stages of cancer. This service is provided in the comfort of their own homes and the demand for this service has grown an average of 11% per year over the past six years.”
In addition to responding to the financial implications of a cancer diagnosis with its grant programme, the Society also reports that it is dealing with an increasing number of queries on its National Cancer Helpline on issues relating to ;
- The application process and eligibility criteria for medical cards
- Securing social welfare payments
- Employment and sick leave, wage payment amounts and periods of entitlement during cancer treatment
- Accessing financial support for carers and other home help assistance
- Arrears in mortgage repayments, significant accrual of debt as a result of unpayment of loan amounts
Volunteers at the 2011 Daffodil Day launch event also heard about the continued expansion of the Daffodil Centre initiative. The pilot Daffodil Centre was opened in Galway University Hospital in June 2009 to provide information, advice and support to all those concerned or affected by cancer in the Hospital. Following external evaluation, improvements were made to the model and the second Daffodil Centre was opened in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on 25th October 2010. By Christmas 2010, the specialist cancer care nurses had met with over 800 people in that Centre. Construction has started on the Daffodil Centre in the Mater Misercordiae Hospital, Dublin 1 and the Irish Cancer Society is currently in discussions with the HSE about opening four further Daffodil Centres in 2011.
Finally John McCormack encouraged the 400 strong volunteer work force at the launch and their teams of thousands across the country to do everything they could to make Daffodil Day 2011 a major success.
“We really need you, our wonderful volunteers, to make a great push this year. Effective cancer care for patients and families has to continue during these difficult economic times. Times are hard – so we must work harder to ensure that our vital patient services are not compromised. But we know that some people might not be able to give as much this year. We want the Irish public to know that we appreciate and need every donation, no matter what size because cancer is on the rise and we need every euro raised on Daffodil Day to help the thousands of people diagnosed every year” John McCormack said.
Daffodil Day 2011 will see the launch of a new advertising campaign sponsored by Dell Ireland, including a new TV advert using the slogan ‘Ordinary Heroes Against Cancer’ acknowledging the spirit of volunteerism that is the essence and drives the success of this campaign.
Read more about Daffodil Day 2011 at www.cancer.ie/daffodilday
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