The Western Health and Social Care Trust, alongside MacMillan Cancer Support have developed the centre which will be situated at the front entrance of the hospital.

The centre  will provide individuals affected by cancer with local access to cancer information, emotional support, and signposting to a range of different partner services.

The leading cancer charity is also funding three posts to work across the entire Western Health and Social Care Trust area. They are also planning to provide information to GP Practices, libraries and other community venues.

Macmillan Senior Development Manager, Paula Kealey, explained:

“Macmillan will be working closely with the Western Trust, other charity and voluntary groups and organisations across the border to ensure that people coming from north and south get all the information and support they need, here on the health and wellbeing campus.

“The Western Trust covers a huge area and that’s why we have plans to provide support in Omagh and Enniskillen because, once people finish their hospital treatment, they need information and support services closer to home.”

Local UUP councillor and mental health practitioner Raymond Farrell gave his unequivocal support to the development.

“I greatly welcome the announcement from the Western Trust of the commencement in the autumn of an outreach MacMillan Centre at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen. This is a positive development and I hope a tremendous resource for those impacted by a cancer illness and will provide both practical, educational and emotional support.

“I am on public record in calling for greater support for cancer sufferers in the west and when we see some 1300 diagnosed with this illness in the past year, this service is a positive step. We need to see the South West Hospital utilised to the full and establishing cancer services is something I am very passionate about for our people.”

The Western Trust is currently looking for volunteers to support the centre, due to open in October/November 2015.

If you are enthusiastic, enjoy helping others and have good listening skills, then this may be the role for you.

Volunteers will meet and greet visitors, provide information and support the Macmillan Cancer information manager.

Support and training will be offered to all volunteers.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for this service, please contact; Anne Love, volunteer Manager, Western Trust on 02871611155 or email anne.love@westerntrust.hscni.net or wendy.doherty@westerntrust.hscni.net