Cancer Care West Residence Celebrates 2 Years of Service

Inis Aoibhinn, Cancer Care West’s Residence and Cancer Support Centre, celebrates its second year this month. Since the new facility opened in 2007, Inis Aoibhinn has provided accommodation and support to over five hundred patients receiving treatment for cancer.

The Inis Aoibhinn residence was established to meet the needs of patients receiving radiotherapy treatments. Before the opening of Inis Aoibhinn in spring 2007, patients, who had already suffered the trauma and psychological effects of a diagnosis of cancer, were obliged to travel to UCHG for an average of six weeks on a daily basis. This posed a massive burden on patients living in Donegal, Roscommon, Sligo, Mayo and other parts of The West. Today The Cancer Care West Residence provides those patients with an alternative to the daily commute to UCHG or having to overnight in a local B&B. The staff of twenty professionals including two psychologists and five nurses provide support, complementary therapies and psychological services.

Inis Aoibhinn comprises thirty en-suite bedrooms and has facilities for a patient’s partner or guest to share. It also provides a library, television room and dining facilities for the residents use. Inis Aoibhinn enables patients to have privacy and independence while hospital and medical services are available close at hand. Patients are encouraged to regard Inis Aoibhinn as their home away from home during their stay.

The Residence has also provided patients with additional support services such as psychological counselling, relaxation therapies, stress management and therapeutic massage. Earlier this year an announcement was made of a new facility on Seamus Quirke Road which will now house these support services, allowing Inis Aoibhinn to become exclusively available for residential use.

Richard Flaherty, CEO of Cancer Care West comments “We are delighted to be celebrating two years of service. As a not-for-profit organization, Cancer Care West relies on the generosity of others to keep the facility running. We would like to thank those who have assisted us since Inis Aoibhinn opened its doors in 2007”.

Bernard Collins, Chairman of Cancer Care West said ‘The services provided by Cancer Care West are crucial to assisting those who are receiving treatment for Cancer and those affected in anyway by the disease. Inis Aoibhinn has proved to be an essential aid for those recuperating from treatment. The facility, along with the outreach programmes and upcoming Cancer Support Services Centre, aims to provide the maximum amount of Cancer support services for our patients and their families. Cancer Care West will continue to strive in providing assistance to all those affected by the disease”.

For more information on Inis Aoibhinn and Cancer Care West please log on to www.CancerCareWest.ie