This article is from page 2 of the 2006-02-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
MORE than one person per day in Clare is being told that they have cancer, according to new statistics.
An average of 422 people from the county are being diagnosed with the disease, per year.
According to figures given at the launch of Daffodil Day in the West County Hotel last night, 27 families in the county will avail of the Irish Cancer Society’s night nurse service.
Last year, €1.5 million of the €2.9 million raised during Daffodil Day went towards the service, which allows patients remain at home with the support of a night nurse when they are at an advanced phase of their illness.
A total of €850,000 of the money raised in 2005 will fund the employment of 23 hospital-based cancer liaison nurses, to work in major cancer treatment hospitals across the country. Two of these nurses are employed in the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick.
Some €1 million will be allocated this year to cancer homecare teams, who work in the community to provide specialist palliative care nursing. Out of this fund, €54,825 will be allocated to homecare teams operating in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary.
Daffodil Day monies will also fund the National Cancer Helpline (Freefone 1800 200 700), which is staffed by nurses trained in cancer care. Last year the Helpline received approximately 7,000 calls, 85 from callers in County Clare.
A total of €93,000 will be allocated for bursaries, which will be granted to approximately 91 nurses, undertaking the higher diploma in oncology nursing.
Daffodil Day monies will also be allocated to the Irish Cancer Society’s education programme for hospital and community nurses. A sum of €40,000 will be allocated to fund a play specialist for the children’s cancer unit in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.
This year’s Daffodil Day will take place on Friday, March 24. The society is calling on the public to support the day so that it can continue to grow its free patient care and specialist nursing services, by reaching its €3 million target.
The Irish Cancer Society is calling on the Irish public to support Daffodil Day, by “buying a daff”, by donating daffodils, holding a daffodil coffee morning or acting as a volunteer selling daffodils in the community or workplace. For further information please call the Daffodil Day office on CallSave 1850 60 60 60.