Bournemouth: Former cancer patients needed for friendship scheme

Volunteers would offer friendship to cancer patients in Dorset

A hospital is looking for people to support patients going through cancer treatment.

The new pilot will see volunteers based with cancer specialist teams across hospitals in Bournemouth and Poole in Dorset.

Applicants could include former cancer patients or their families, University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) has suggested.

The role will involve giving advice and solidarity to those undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Patients would be referred for the service if it were felt they could benefit from extra support by telephone or face-to-face.

Claire Smith, UHD's Lead Cancer Nurse, said it would be a "rewarding" role, offering friendship to people throughout "one of the hardest times of their life".

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