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What exactly do Macmillan nurses do? Why do they not provide hands-on nursing support?

Macmillan nurses are specially trained to help people with cancer, their carers and families by providing:

  • pain and symptom relief
  • information about cancer treatments and side effects
  • an opportunity to discuss problems, feelings and future plans
  • advice to other members of the caring team, for example district nurses and Marie Curie nurses.
What each nurse does will depend on the role she is employed to do.  In Northern Ireland there are a wide variety of Macmillan nurses including:
  • Breast Care
  • Lung Cancer specialist
  • Children's nurse specialists
  • Gynaecological nurse specialists
  • Head and neck nurse specialist
  • Palliative care nurse specialists
They are employed to make the best use of their skills and to offer more specialist help and advice to patients with cancer.  This work is in addition to that of general nursing staff who provide day-to-day care for a wide range of patients in hospitals and elsewhere.  In general, therefore, Macmillan nurses do not carry out routine nursing tasks, such as personal hygiene, changing dressings, giving medicines etc.

 

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