Charity-funded hair loss support service delivers benefits for Hywel Dda cancer patients
Above: cancer patient Gayle receiving a consultation with the Heads Up service
After receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, the issues around hair loss didn’t immediately register with patient Gayle.
“However, once my chemotherapy was underway and my hair loss began, the Heads Up service was recommended to me by my oncology team and I will be eternally grateful for their fantastic support,” said Gayle.
“I met the local hair care advisors at my local hospital who were incredibly supportive, friendly, professional and informative. They provided me with head coverings, along with information on scalp and wig care.”
Thanks to the Heads Up service, which is available to cancer patients across the Hywel Dda region, Gayle received a range of support and she was able to attend a community event bringing patients together for advice and support.
“I really can’t express how grateful I am to have been supported by the Heads Up service,” said Gayle. “They are truly a lifeline for cancer patients and all the staff I have encountered have been extraordinarily kind, supportive and patient.”
The two-year Heads Up project has been funded by Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, which has provided £115,500 to fund the service in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, and the Withybush Hospital Cancer Day Unit Appeal charity, which has provided £49,500 to fund the service in Pembrokeshire.
The initiative was previously piloted across Pembrokeshire by the Cancer Hair Care service under the umbrella of charity Caring Hair and with funding from the Withybush Hospital Cancer Day Unit Appeal charity, with in-kind match-funding provided by Caring Hair.
Hywel Dda University Health Board is the first in Wales to run a project to improve the patient experience of cancer-related hair loss. The service is delivered by Cancer Hair Care, the UK’s leading hair loss support charity.
Gina Beard, Lead Cancer Nurse at the Health Board, explained: “The project provides a person-centred, holistic hair loss service for cancer patients. It brings together healthcare and haircare professionals from local communities to give patients the knowledge and products needed to manage their hair loss with dignity and choice.
“Previously, hair loss support for cancer patients was limited, with a statutory duty only to inform patients that treatment may cause hair loss and to provide a £90 voucher towards a wig.
“The new service ensures that patients have access to holistic support throughout their hair loss journey. And importantly, the service is free at point of access to patients and is available both on site at the appropriate hospitals and within the local community as well as remotely.”
Within the first year of the project, over 600 patients had directly engaged with the service, and over 3,000 had received contact from the service, either by receiving printed materials or support packs, or by attending workshops.
50 local hairdressers have also engaged with the project at community events, in hospitals and at education sessions to upscale their knowledge in chemotherapy-induced alopecia and related hairdressing services, and the project is building a community of Heads Up hairdressers.
Left: Hairdressers attending training at the John Burns Centre, Kidwelly
One hairdresser who has been involved in the project said: “Now, when a patient comes to me, I know that I am providing them with the best advice. I’ve always wanted to give something back to the community and I am very proud to be a hairdresser involved with Heads Up.”
Trish George, Treasurer of Withybush Hospital Cancer Day Unit Appeal, said: “Having funded the original pilot in Pembrokeshire and witnessed its success we are delighted to be able to fund the costs of delivering this exciting and beneficial project to many more Pembrokeshire residents. Huge thanks to all our generous donors who enable us to support this initiative.”
Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: “Thanks to the generosity of local communities, we are able to fund fantastic projects like this which are above and beyond core NHS expenditure, and which make such a big difference to the experiences of patients.
“Never has the charity been more important in helping deliver the very best care and experiences for patients and staff. We are so grateful for every donation we receive.”