Macmillan's Bupa counselling

CrumpetsOrToast 

That is a real shame as sometimes those close need just as much support as those going through treatment.

Perhaps there is not enough time to support everyone.

Thank you for highlighting.

That’s so unfortunate CrumpetsOrToast . I think GP ‘a can be approached about organising counselling for relatives . Macmillan’s is ring fenced for patients as far as I am aware .

However other NHS support should be available for them . I will check with admin but that is my understanding.

Take care ,

Court 

Hi court  

On the section about counselling it does say it is for “people living with cancer”. While that may not be entirely clear in itself, it does refer in the eligibility to “your cancer diagnosis” so yes, it’s for the patient.

On another point, I also recommend the service in the cervical cancer group but one lady was told she was not eligible to access this as she’d had surgery and her cancer had been removed. So that’s another thing to consider which I wasn’t aware of, as that wasn’t the case for me when I had it. 

Sarah xx

Gosh SarahH21 I was not aware of that . I thought it was open for post recovery period . Think this is something to raise with admin as it needs to be clearer . It’s a shame if people think they are going to get help and it raises expectations.

I have not had much time recently but will try and find out more too . 
Court 

Just requested some input and hopefully more information.

Take care ,

Court 

I felt embarrassed recommending it to the lady in my group and then her being declined and I wonder if the criteria has been changed in any way? I was eligible in the post recovery period with a NED result after my surgery. 

Sarah xx

Hi

The counselling is CBT which I had through my GP six years back.

When I contacted MacMillan for a referral they put me on the list saying that I needed a more in-depth therapy. It never happened as the waitlist was so long. So I had CBT which helped a little 

Definitely worth contacting the GP for support with meds and counselling  

best cxxx wishes 

Hi Artsie.

GP has been contacted but many months have passed without NHS resources being available. They site NHS demands on their own services due to pandemic.

And while I am empathetic to some level, this leaves my family member in dia need, having already lost 2 x immediate family members to bowel cancer and now I being a potential 3rd have retriggering everything for them.

My focus ideally needs to be on my fight, rather than holding up the family's emotional and practical needs.

So I am disappointed that a cancer charity such as Macmillan doesn't have any leighway to support people that are truly devastated by cancer, when NHS clearly isn't covering.

Sorry if that sounds like a rant. I normally stay pretty tight-lipped on public forum. 

You don’t have to apologise CrumpetsOrToast

My daughter is a private therapist and struggles at times to see the people on her list. She’s got a very long waiting list 

She left the hospital setting because it became impossible to make a difference. She was given larger groups to work with knowing she needed one to one to help her clients. 

Is it possible to go private?

Though that can be a mind field. It’s worth finding out the best therapy for your relative 

There’s so much out there, my daughter is person centred meaning walking talking therapies. Body mapping well  whatever is best for her client. She’s taken so many qualifications 

I tried one private but we didn’t gel 

I hope that you can get some help 

This is the criteria for counselling . It is restricted to the person who has had cancer but they don’t have to be in active treatment. However it might not be appropriate for them to have treatment for other reasons stated .

Macmillan also suggested phoning the helpline for relatives as they might be able to put people in contact with local resources for  help that include relatives .

0808 808 0000.

Hope this helps ,

Court