Your questions about Macmillan Nurses

Are Macmillan nurses available during the night/at weekends?

Macmillan nurses are not an 'emergency service' – they usually work normal office hours although some work different hours.
If the Macmillan nurse is unavailable, the service will ensure that a recorded phone message provides phone numbers of other services that can be contacted out-of-hours.

If you require urgent out of hours help, please contact NHS Direct on NHS Direct, 0845 4647 or www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Are Macmillan nurses available for people with a non-cancer diagnosis?

Macmillan focuses mainly on people affected by cancer but are increasingly sharing experience and working with colleagues caring for people with other conditions and do therefore provide some support for non-cancer patients.

What is the difference between Macmillan nurses and Marie Curie nurses?

Macmillan nurses and Marie Curie nurses work to support cancer patients in very different ways.

Macmillan nurses are especially trained to help patients, their carers and families throughout their experience of cancer by providing pain and symptom relief; information about cancer treatments and side effects; provide an opportunity to discuss problems, feelings and future plans; and offer advice to other members of the caring team.

On the other hand Marie Curie nurses provide practical, hands-on nursing care during the terminal stages of cancer in patient's homes and will often be available for a morning, afternoon or all night, so that the family carers are able to rest.

Are Macmillan nurses available in the private sector?

Macmillan nurses are not normally available in private hospitals. However, Macmillan is working to improve links between community nurses and private hospitals to ensure that those who receive part of their treatment within the private sector, such as surgery, are referred to community NHS support services and do not fall through the net when they are discharged.