CANCER patients and their loved ones in Worcestershire are being given access to information and support in their communities thanks to a partnership between charity Macmillan Cancer Support and high street pharmacy and retailer Boots UK.

The two organisations have joined forces to help everyone in the county affected by cancer discuss the wider, practical and emotional issues at a time when they most need it.

Over the past five years the partnership has raised more than £10 million for Macmillan and provided Boots pharmacists and No 7 advisors with bespoke cancer training to enable them to provide advice and support to people affected by cancer.

Jackie Creed is a Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacist (BMIP) in Redditch at the Kingfisher Centre, together with her colleague Harpreet Hayer. They provide advice on recovery, living well, and managing the side effects of cancer treatment, emotional support and direct people to financial and practical support services.

Jackie said: “I became a BMIP after my father in law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. My mother-in-law didn’t know where to turn to for support and I wanted to help make sure other people didn’t go through the same thing.

“I have never looked back, I love being able to support other patients with the knowledge I have gained and help make their cancer journey that bit more bearable.”

Jackie’s colleague Gill Casey is a Boots Macmillan Beauty Adviser (BMBA) who has been trained to give tips and advice on how to manage the visible side-effects of cancer, such as defining sparse eyebrows and eyelashes, to help people affected by cancer feel more like themselves.

The BMIPs and BMBAs work closely together in store to ensure people can be directed to other appropriate local Macmillan support and services.

The store team also arranges visits to local hospices, such as Primrose Hospice in Bromsgrove, to provide make up tips and demonstrations.

Jackie recalls one elderly gentleman she supported. She said: “He dropped by and I took him into our consultation room for a chat as he was concerned about some symptoms he was having after treatment and I reassured him that what he was experiencing was normal.

“He also had worries about money so I signposted him to the Worcestershire Macmillan CAB service.

“At the end of the conversation he dissolved into tears and said that I was the first person who had actually taken the time to really listen to him and understand his concerns. It is just what we do every day as pharmacists but I found it so rewarding to have made a difference to him.”

There are 12 BMIPs at 10 locations (Bromsgrove High Street, Evesham Retail Park, Kidderminster at Bromsgrove Street, Malvern Enigma Retail Park, Redditch Kingfisher Centre, Upton-upon-Severn High Street, Pershore High Street, Stourport High Street and St Andrews Square Droitwich and Worcester High Street) and five BMBAs at two locations (Redditch and Worcester) across Worcestershire. People don’t need an appointment, they can just drop in, but if people are making a special trip it is advisable to call ahead to check availability.

To find out more about Macmillan’s partnership with Boots UK visit www.macmillan.org.uk/boots. If anyone has any questions about cancer, need support or just someone to talk to, call free, Monday to Friday 9am-8pm on 0808 808 00 00 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk.