Carers, Family and Friends Information Hub

At Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) we understand the significant impact of a cancer diagnosis not only on the patient, but also on the patient’s family. Our aim is to include and support family members during a person’s cancer journey and this page gives some information and support, that can be accessed for carers and family members.

Information and Support Sessions – CHFT Health and Wellbeing Programme

We welcome and encourage family members and carers to join our information/education sessions as part of our Health and Wellbeing Programme at CHFT.

Our sessions are aimed to inform patients and family members about how best to support themselves as they go through cancer, but also to share information about services which can support you. All of our Health and Wellbeing sessions are currently running virtually due to the Coronavirus pandemic and you would be welcome to join any or all of the following:

First Steps Cancer Programme

This is our information and support programme for patients and family members, following a recent cancer diagnosis.

We are currently running First Steps like a book club, so there are videos and lots of information to read on our website.

We invite you to have a look at the information and then join us online for our monthly First Steps discussion group.

This is an opportunity for family members, as well as patients, to ask any questions that are worrying you about treatment etc.

Click here to learn more about the First Steps Programme and book onto a monthly session.

End of Treatment Health and Wellbeing Events

These events are run quarterly and aim to support people who have finished a block of cancer treatment, to move on with living as healthy a lifestyle as possible.

The events include talks on managing emotions, keeping physically active, diet, sleep and managing fatigue. There is also a chance to meet with the clinical team and talk about managing the side effects of treatment and signs to look out for in the future.

Click here to read more about the end of treatment Health and Wellbeing Events.

You can book onto the next event here.

Thinking Ahead

Thinking Ahead is our information and support programme for patients and family members affected by an incurable cancer diagnosis.

For some, this will mean receiving treatment to control the cancer and side effects, and for other people, treatment may not be offered. We run this course several times a year and welcome family members being involved. Topics include keeping active, managing uncertainty, advance care planning, estates/financial planning, mindfulness and more.

Sessions include a talk by a speaker and a chance to discuss and ask questions.

Find out more about Thinking Ahead by clicking here.

Clinical Information

Patients will have a named Cancer Nurse Specialist (CNS), whose contact details they should be given at the time of diagnosis. Family members are welcome to contact the CNS for advice and information, though the patient does need to give consent for this to happen.

In some cases this may include setting up a password with the Trust, that the family members know and need to provide, before any conversations with family members take place. The purpose of a password is to ensure that the patient has given consent for their information to be shared with family members.

Emotional Support for Carers and Family Members

Carers and family members are welcome to contact the Macmillan Information and Support Service in our hospital trust.

As well as providing practical help, financial support and onward referrals to other organisations, the Macmillan Information Team also provides a listening ear service for patients and family members by phone or in person, in both HRI and CRH.

There are also various Macmillan support groups (currently running virtually), which family members are welcome to access and join, regardless of whether the patient in the family wishes to attend.

Further information and contact details for the team, can be found here

Other Organisations which can support carers

The Macmillan Information Service can refer you to other organisations offering carer support, or you can contact these directly. Most of these organisations are offering telephone or virtual support at the current time.

Some organisations which provide information and support to carers include:

Carers Count – Kirklees

Tel: 0300 012 0231     

Email: info@carerscount.org.uk               

Website: https://carerscount.org.uk/

Calderdale Carers

Tel: 01422 369101      

Email: enquiries@calderdale-carers.co.uk 

Website: https://www.calderdale-carers.co.uk/

The Carers Trust

Tel: 01484 537036     

Email: info@CTMY.org.uk 

Website: https://carers.org/ (national) https://www.carerstrustmidyorkshire.org.uk/ (local)

For families of somebody with an incurable diagnosis

Carers Support Groups and telephone support at The Kirkwood and Overgate Hospice

Kirkwood hospice logo

The Kirkwood

Tel: 01484 557900 or the Family Care Team: 01484 557 908

Email – info@thekirkwood.org.uk

Website: https://www.thekirkwood.org.uk/how-we-can-help/caring-for-patients/family-care-team

Overgate hospice logo 

Overgate Hospice  

Tel- 01422 379151

Email - info@overgatehospice.nhs.uk 

Website: https://www.overgatehospice.org.uk/our-care/patient-family-support/

Macmillan Support Line

Tel: 0808 808 0000 

Open 7 days per week, 8am to 8pm and provides information and emotional support/a listening ear for family members as well as patients.

Macmillan Website – Information and Support for Carers and Family Members

The Macmillan website has a huge amount of information to support carers and family members including information on looking after someone with cancer, practical and emotional support for carers, cancer and young carers – and much more.  Click here for more information

You can also download the Macmillan Booklets below

‘Looking after someone with Cancer’ and ‘Be There for Someone Facing Cancer’ 

Macmillan has an online community for patients and family members to be in touch with other patients/family members around the country to ask advice, share tips and information (e.g. on useful travel insurance policies).

Click here to find out more about the online community  

In this section