New benefit services for cancer patients and families

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has launched a new financial advice and benefit service in Belfast today.

This is a specialist service being provided by Macmillan Cancer Support for cancer sufferers and their families at the Royal Group of Hospitals in Belfast. It aims to ease the financial burden on people affected by cancer and provide peace of mind to enable them to concentrate primarily on their healthcare.

The Minister said: “This is a unique and innovative example of a welfare and benefit service being provided in a health care setting. It is an important example of working in partnership between a government department, the voluntary sector and private industry.”

This initiative upholds the aims of the Department for Social Development which seeks to reduce poverty, maximise income and encourage benefit uptake.

Notes to Editors:

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