iPads to enhance cancer support service across the Western Isles

Funding from NHS Western Isles Endowment Funds has provided Western Isles Cancer Care Initiative (WICCI) with £2,500 to purchase iPads to strengthen the support available to services users across the Western Isles.

WICCI has two fully qualified counsellors who provide services throughout the Western Isles, from the Butt to Barra. Since 2019, WICCI has offered counselling to individuals and families affected by cancer, addressing a wide range of mental health and wellbeing concerns, including:

• initial diagnosis and treatment,
• terminal diagnosis,
• anxiety,
• necessary and often permanent lifestyle and relationship changes,
• stress,
• carer & family support,
• bereavement and loss.

Due to the remote and rural nature of the Western Isles, unpredictable weather and transport challenges, WICCI often find it challenging and expensive to maintain consistent face-to-face services across all areas.  

To help overcome these barriers, NHS Western Isles Endowment Fund has provided funding to allow WICCI to purchase 5 iPads to support their important work. The purpose of the Endowment Funds is to provide services and amenities to patients and staff, which are beyond the core provisions of NHS Western Isles.

These devices will be loaned to service users, enabling WICCI to offer regular and reliable therapeutic support remotely, enhancing the existing face-to-face services.

Access to these iPads is expected to deliver long-term health benefits for individuals, while also offering time and cost efficiencies for WICCI. These counselling sessions significantly improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and families affected by cancer at a period of their life where they need some professional intervention to work through a wide range of traumatic stages.

Feedback from those who have received counselling sessions has been overwhelmingly positive, with every client disclosing that it has helped them at that time to process either their diagnosis or the loss of a loved one.

In addition to cancer-related support, these sessions can also be used for prehabilitation (psychological support before treatment) and rehabilitation (support after treatment). They are also beneficial for clients with other long-term conditions and comorbidities, offering holistic care tailored to individual needs.

Caroline Maciver, Manager of Western Isles Cancer Care Initiative, said: “Having IT equipment for digital connectivity will ensure that WICCI can provide consistent and reliable counselling services across the Western Isles. Thanks to this funding we were able to purchase iPads that will be available to use when there are transport delays or cancellations preventing face to face appointments, this will guarantee we can continue to provide support when and where it is needed the most.”

NHS Western Isles Board Chair, Gillian McCannon, said: “I was delighted that we were able to support WICCI to purchase iPads to help enable their ability to extend their outreach services to the people of our islands who depend on WICCI for additional support. Having the ability to access remotely additional support can help people across the islands feel connected to those who support they need the most during challenging periods of their life."