Bupa and Macmillan partner to offer free cancer support

Following the positive outcome of a Bupa counselling pilot scheme, which saw reductions in feelings of depression (76 per cent) and anxiety (72 per cent) in patients using the service between August 2020 and January 2021, a new UK partnership between Bupa Health Clinics and cancer support charity Macmillan has been established to provide emotional support counselling to cancer patients for free.

“For many people, it is more frightening and isolating to get a cancer diagnosis or to go through treatment today than at any other time in recent history,” commented Ed Wallace, Head of Innovation at Macmillan Cancer Support. “We are getting an increasing number of calls from people struggling with isolation and experiencing very high anxiety levels, without their usual support of family and friends around them. This partnership will help us provide further support to people living with cancer, who are struggling to cope emotionally and need us more than ever.”

Anyone affected by cancer that is feeling anxious or depressed is encouraged to call the Macmillan Support Line and ask about the Bupa service.

Hospitals & Healthcare notes that individuals dealing with cancer diagnoses, wherever they are in the world, could benefit from emotional support through counselling. This service, as well as other enhanced IPMI offerings – including expanded assistance to counter the rise in breast cancer diagnoses worldwide – should be a key consideration for policymakers designing employee assistance offerings.