Durham County Council in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support is embarking on a flagship project to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. The impact a cancer diagnosis
can have on an individual and their family goes beyond medical treatment. Many people with a cancer diagnosis may experience a reduction in income, an increase in expenditure or struggle to do some of the things they used to do. Joining The Dots, which is in the very early stages of development, aims to connect people with existing services to get the help they need around income, housing, practical support such as housework or dog walking, lifestyle and emotional support.
Cllr Lucy Hovvels, chair of the County Durham health and wellbeing board, said: “It is very exciting for County Durham to be at the forefront of improving the lives of people affected by cancer. As many as one in two of us will be affected by cancer in our lifetime and currently there are many different services offering support to people affected so it is quite difficult to work out the most appropriate place to go for help. It will make sure that people receive the help that they need at a time when they need it and significantly improve the quality of life of people living with and beyond cancer.” The Macmillan Joining The Dots team is keen to hear your experiences of being affected by cancer. You can contact the team by emailing: JoiningTheDots@durham.gov.uk or by phoning: 03000 267345. JoiningTheDots@durham.gov.uk
