Cancer Society Lends a Hand at the Bay of Islands Chemotherapy Infusion Unit
The Cancer Society Volunteers known as Yellow Shirts play a big part in Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand Te Tai Tokerau cancer service facilities.
The visit from the Cancer Society to Bay of Islands Chemotherapy Infusion Unit recently, was to establish a physical presence of Cancer Society Volunteers to the new unit.
“The Yellow Shirts play a big part in our facilities, delivering valuable support and services to people with cancer and their whānau,” says Dee Telfer, Operations Manager Cancer and Blood Services.
“Their generosity of their own time is invaluable.”
The role of the ‘yellow shirt’ is to meet and greet patients, settle them in and help provide a supportive and more relaxed experience for people having treatment for their cancer. They offer tea, coffee, home baking and conversation, or silent support to patients.
They also provide general assistance to the hospital team, such as transporting patients to the hospital for further tests and taking specimens to the lab.
This replicates the wrap around services at the Jim Carney Cancer Treatment Centre in Whangārei, and the Chemotherapy Infusion unit in Kaitaia.
Photo: L – R Sudha Bhana, Manager Volunteering Cancer Society, Charli Timms, Northland Regional Manager Cancer Society, Lorna Smeath Bay of Islands Hospital Outpatients Department Clinical Nurse Manager, Dee Telfer Operations Manager Cancer & Blood Services, Radiation Oncology and Faster Cancer Treatment lead Health NZ Te Tai Tokerau.
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