Cancer Support - FOI Response Register

FoI Number
2024-816
Subject
Cancer Support
Date Received
28/03/2025
Request and Response
  1. Do you provide cancer support workers, or similar roles (e.g., navigators, cancer care co-ordinators) to your haemato-oncology patients?

Clinical support worker

  1. How many do you employ, and what is the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)?

1 x 0.8 WTE

  1. What is their average caseload?

Variable as accessed by all tumour groups

  1. How many are employed by a third party (e.g., charity), and what is the FTE?

 0

  1. What is their caseload?

Not applicable

  1. What percentage of your leukaemia patients have accessed their services?

In accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested.

  1. Do you provide counselling or psychological support for leukaemia patients through:
  • Mental health professionals?
  • Digital platforms (e.g., apps)?
  • Any other relevant services?

Signpost/ refer to local support services

  1. How many staff do you employ to provide cancer emotional support, and what is the FTE?

4.06 WTE CNS TEAM

  1. What are:
  • The average,

2-3 working days for initial contact following referral

  • The minimum, and
  • The maximum waiting times from referral to first appointment or first access point for emotional support services?
  1. How do patients get referred to these services (e.g., clinical nurse specialist, GP, self-referral)?

Consultant, GP, CNS and self-referral

  1. Are there any limits on the number of sessions or amount of time cancer patients can access counselling?

No, if require more specialist counselling, will be referred

  1. What percentage of all cancer patients you care for access emotional support in-house?

 All

  1. What percentage of leukaemia patients you care for access emotional support?

In accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested.

  1. Do you offer welfare advice or practical support (e.g., benefits, financial help, transport) to:
  • All cancer patients?

YES

  • Leukaemia patients?

YES

  1. How do patients access this support, and how is the information shared with them?

Contact details given at diagnosis or team will contact following referral

  1. How many staff and FTE staff are responsible for delivering welfare support services?
  2. How many leukaemia patients accessed welfare support in the past 12 months? What percentage of the total leukaemia patients you care for does this represent?

In accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested.