Cavendish Blog – 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Us
February 23, 2015
By June Smailes, Chair.
Dr June Smailes is trustee and Chair of Cavendish Cancer Care. In 2004, aged 46, she was working as a GP when she was diagnosed herself with breast cancer. She visited the Centre herself as a patient before joining the Board of Trustees in 2006.
1. As well as a GP, I was a children’s author
I used to write stories for children that I broadcast over local radio. My favourite was Pepe the playful puppy!
2. Our Fundraising team is about as diverse as they come!
Our CEO, Chris, is an ex-musician who toured with Shed 7; Jonny is an ex-engineer; Mike has a PhD in Regenerative Medicine and Victoria was an entrepreneur.
3. We have a specialised Children and Young People’s service
Our children and young people’s service offers supportive care to children and young people up to the age of 18, who are experiencing distress when a close family member has cancer. Cancer treatments that alter how a parent looks can be scary for young children and facing the fact that a parent has a life threatening illness a big shock for young people.
4. Our Therapists and Assessors are highly-qualified and offer a person centred approach.
We offer an initial consultation within days of self-referral, a range of 12 different therapies and a review, providing holistic support to people affected by a diagnosis of cancer. All our therapists work to agreed standards and protocols to ensure the high quality and safety of treatments on offer.
5. We were founded by a dentist
Cavendish Cancer Care developed from the work of David Simons, a Sheffield dentist specialising in hypnosis in the management of patients’ pain, anxiety and fears. Medical colleagues would refer patients suffering from a wide range of problems, and through the 1980s, he noted that an increasing number of these patients were suffering from the effects of cancer.
6. Our model of care is based on sound clinical research studies
We use a nationally recognised research-based model for our initial consultations. Every course of treatment is evaluated using a nationally used tool, developed here with the help of Sheffield University health research department!
7. We’re almost 25!
2016 will see us hit our big silver birthday – we’ll be 25. A lot has changed over the last 25 years, but we’re proud to still be supporting families in the region who are affected by cancer.
8. Our outreach services are in hospitals across the city.
We have services in Weston Park Hospital and Macmillan Palliative Care Unit at Northern General Hospital where our Therapists and Assessors are available to support patients.
9. We also offer Bereavement Support and Relaxation Classes at the Centre.
The Bereavement Group operates in blocks of 6 sessions and the group will be closed to new comers after the second session. Relaxation Classes are held on Wednesday afternoons, for more information and to book onto these sessions please contact reception on 0114 2784600.
10. We only receive 6% of our income through NHS funding.
We never charge clients. This means that we rely on the generosity of local people and businesses to help us keep the door open for more families in the region. To find out about how you could support us, please click here.
Thank you for reading,
June.
