The Waterford City and Dungarvan based facility has closed their doors until March 30th due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
However, they are still providing information, advice and support by phone and email.
You can contact them on 051 304604 or by emailing [email protected]
Client services coordinator at the Solas Cancer Support Centre is Clare Shanahan.
“We had to take into account the greater priority which was the safety of each and every individual who might attend our service.
“It's an imperative really that we do no harm and by inviting people into an environment where people can congregate or even be in a one-to-one situation if it could potentially compromise their safety and their welfare we could not, ethically or morally, allow that to happen.”
She says that many of their clients are currently undergoing chemotherapy.
“For that reason their immune system may be very, very suppressed. It's important that we wouldn't take any chances with compromising them.
She says they will be taking calls Monday to Friday
“We are here at the end of the phone, we intend to maintain telephone service here at the Solas Centre from 9 o'clock in the morning until 5 o'clock in the evening, certainly in the immediate couple of weeks, to respond to people who maybe have worries.
“A first point of contact might be their GP but if they have concerns that they feel that they would just like to maybe bounce off us they can certainly ring us here in the centre and we will have a conversation and hopefully be able to offer them appropriate advice, information and guidance.”
Clare Shanahan says talking can help.
“The sort of support that meets them at an emotional level so that they feel that they have been listened to and conversation always helps, it helps all of us doesn't it? It's the burden sharing, I think it just does help us to achieve a sense of calm within ourselves and also for us to feel that we are not isolated and alone with whatever is presenting for us.
She says going through cancer treatment can be lonely and isolating.
“People, out of fear, maybe are pulling back so, it's really important that they know that they have somebody at the end of the phone. They do have family members, it's really important, I do think that the phone is going to be a lifeline for us all – facetime and additional social media resources like that – to keep in touch with people.
“For us, we would like to give that message to people that we are here to talk, to hear, to understand, to listen, to respond and to be a human response to them in their human need.”
Clare Shanahan says like other charities they have had to postpone several events.
“We have had to cancel some events and of course that will have an impact on us but, the greater imperative for us is that people are well and stay well.
“We won't be going away, we will be here for the future, we will be operational again as soon as the government and the HSE decide that it is safe to do so.
“We will pick up where we left off with people. We will continue to be here for them at the best level we can without compromising their wellness during this challenging period of time.”
