Calls for North Wales to have a Maggie’s Cancer site to support patients across the region

Wrexham’s MP has called for the opening of Maggie’s Cancer site in North Wales.

The centres operate across Wales and the UK and provide support, information, and practical advice to cancer patients up and down the country.

Maggie’s centres are operated outside of the NHS but are linked to NHS hospitals, helping to provide effective advice to patients and their families. Currently, the nearest Maggie’s centre is ‘Maggie’s Wirral’, which is located at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Following meetings with the Steve Morgan Foundation, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and Maggie’s Cancer Centre, Sarah Atherton, the Member of Parliament for Wrexham, is calling for a Maggie’s Cancer site in North Wales.

Ms Atherton has already raised the importance of having a centre for cancer patients in North Wales, as provided by Maggie’s Cancer Centres across the United Kingdom, during meetings with Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and with the Managing Director of the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Earlier this month, Ms Atherton also met with Haydn Jones, a Mold Town Councillor, who was successfully treated for cancer at the Wrexham Maelor and now volunteers at the Maggie’s Cancer Centre in Clatterbridge. Mr Jones has also started a Facebook group, ‘Supporters of a Maggie’s in North Wales’ to bring together “people who are passionate about having a Maggie’s Centre in North Wales”.

Commenting on the campaign, Sarah said: “As a former nurse I know how important it is that cancer patients and their families have access to the information, help and support that Maggie’s Centres can provide and having met with users of Maggie’s centres, I am also very aware of how important these services can be to cancer patients and their families.

“From meetings with local donors – whose philanthropy must be applauded – I know that the funding for this centre is in place and that the team at Maggie’s are very interested in opening a new site in North Wales. It is now up to the local health board to finish the deal, which is why I have started this campaign.

“I personally think that the Wrexham Maelor would be an ideal site for one of these new centres but failing the Maelor, I still believe it is important that we have a Maggie’s Centre within the health board area to support cancer sufferers across the region.

“In this regard, I know that the health board are looking positively at other sites such as Glan Clwyd in order to serve all patients across north Wales.”