Lesley Griffiths AM at the Counting the Cost of Cancer campaign at the Senedd in Cardiff
A cancer charity is calling for patients across Wales to be granted greater access to financial advice and support.
Assembly Member for Wrexham Lesley Griffiths attended an event at the Senedd in Cardiff last week to offer her support for Macmillan’s Counting the Cost of Cancer campaign.
According to Macmillan, many cancer patients claim that after the diagnosis, money is often their biggest worry and cause of stress.
Most cancer patients in Wales are hit with an average cost of £640 a month as a result of their diagnosis.
In 2012, the Welsh Government launched their Cancer Delivery Plan. This included a commitment that everyone diagnosed with cancer should be routinely offered the opportunity to access financial advice and support.
Macmillan’s campaign argues patients are not regularly being referred to welfare benefits advice services and are not given enough information about how to access the services by hospital staff.
Speaking after the event, Lesley Griffiths AM said:
“Macmillan’s research has highlighted more than half of cancer patients in Wales are not offered enough information on welfare benefits advice.”
“Cancer patients should be concentrating on their treatment and recovery rather than having to worry about their financial situation.”
“It is important to ensure people living with cancer receive the specialist welfare benefits support they deserve and I encourage the Welsh Government and Health Boards to work with organisations like Macmillan to make sure the commitment is implemented consistently across Wales.”
