A few words of introduction from our chairman, Elizabeth Wilson.
Stranraer & Cancer Drop In Centre Association was created to provide help and support for sufferers, carers, and relatives living with cancer and other serious illnesses.
Irene Hunter, a district nurse, was responsible for arranging regular meetings for some seven years prior to the development of the centre, and the initiative was clearly supported at a public meeting held on 24th October 1998. From this the Drop In Centre was established.
Funding initially came from donations from the public, who very generously gave £15,000 in the first eighteen months. Since then, we have had grants from Wigtownshire Area Committee, Lottery Awards for All, Wigtownshire Community Health Partnership and a 3 year grant from the New Opportunities Fund. Currently our main funding comes from the local community, through donations and fund raising events with a development grant from Macmillan Cancer Support.
In forming our ideas on what was required in the district we developed our knowledge from visits to the Maggie’s Centre in Edinburgh; Drop In Centres in Ayrshire, and by discussions with many people involved in cancer care and treatment and those affected by it. We studied literature on palliative care. We received and continue to receive much support from Macmillan Cancer Support and adapt and use their policies and procedures where possible. Our manager 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.
The Scottish Guidelines on Cancer Care (1994) state “good Palliative Care is assisted by the availability of support organisations for patients and for patients carers”. The association is also aware of the emphasis placed on developing cancer care by Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board.
Our service began in the Social Services Family Unit, but moved to the Waverley Medical Centre when it opened in 2002. Thanks to the Health Board, the local St John Committee and Macmillan Cancer Support we moved again but this time into a suite designed to suit our purposes in the new Galloway Community Hospital in September 2006. Features of the suite are that not only do we have our own entrance but also a number of rooms to accommodate the services we offer.