Irish Cancer Society to invest €3.6 million over next three years in expansion of hospital based Daffodil Centres

News Article | 26 Jan 2012

Unique service provides information, advice and support to those affected by cancer

Thursday 26th January, 2012: The Irish Cancer Society will invest €3.6 million over the next three years in the nationwide rollout of its hospital based cancer information and support initiative, Daffodil Centres.

Daffodil Centres are the first service of this kind in Ireland and are an extension of the Irish Cancer Society’s existing Cancer Information Service. Funded entirely by the Society, each centre is staffed by Irish Cancer Society specialist cancer nurses who are supported by trained volunteers. The centres offer advice, information and support to all of those concerned about cancer on site in hospitals, often at a crucial time – when the patient has been diagnosed and when they are going through their treatment.

The Irish Cancer Society’s first Daffodil Centre opened in Galway University Hospital in July 2009 and there are currently seven centres in hospitals across the country with six more are planned for 2012 and beyond. As part of its €3.6 million investment, the Society has launched a campaign to raise €1.625 million to cover the build and set up costs of a national network of Daffodil Centres.

Speaking at the launch, Irish Cancer Society CEO John McCormack said
“Our significant investment of €3.6 million over three years highlights the importance the Irish Cancer Society places on cancer patients and their families having access to clear, accessible information and support. A body of international evidence shows that having access to the type of support that a Daffodil Centre provides will contribute to patients and their families having a more positive cancer journey.

“This model of charity-funded advice, information and support centres in hospital settings is a first for Ireland. The Irish Cancer Society is immensely proud to be the flag-bearers of a free, public resource that adds value to the existing clinical services within hospitals.”

To date almost 10,000 people have visited the centres for advice, support and information on all aspects of cancer and the Society expects this number could reach 50,000 per annum when all of the planned centres are up and running. The long term goal for the Society is to have a Daffodil Centre available in each of the eight designated cancer centres and in other hospitals, including private hospitals, where cancer care is delivered.

Prof. Des Carney, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital said “The provision of information and support to cancer patients and their families throughout the cancer experience is considered an essential part of quality patient care. The Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Centres have the capacity to provide a highly valued service and are a source of trusted and expert information that can meet the changing information needs of cancer patients and their families.”

Daffodil Centres are currently set up in:

University College Hospital, Galway;
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin;
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin;
St James's Hospital, Dublin;
Bon Secours Hospital, Cork;
The Adelaide & Meath Hospital Dublin, Incorporating The National Children’s Hospital;
The Hermitage Medical Clinic, Dublin.

Discussions are at an advanced stage with the following hospitals to open Daffodil Centres in 2012: Letterkenny General Hospital; Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; Waterford Regional Hospital; Cork University Hospital; Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick.
The Irish Cancer Society has been developing information and support services for over 20 years and is the leading provider of cancer information in Ireland. The Cancer Information Service (CIS), of which the Daffodil Centres are an extension, offers advice, information and support to anyone worried about any aspect of cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and care. This service incorporates the National Cancer Helpline (Freefone 1800 200 700: open Mon–Thurs, 9am–7pm and Fri 9am–5pm), email and a ‘walk-in’ caller service.

For more information on our Daffodil Centres or how to get involved, click here.
Click here to hear RTÉ Radio 1, Morning Ireland's Cian McCormack report on the roll out of our Daffodil Centres on this morning show - Thursday January 26th 2012.