Macmillan One to One Team

Coffee Drop-In Events

The Macmillan One to One Team provide ongoing support and information to people in the Forth Valley community affected by cancer.

Since 2014, the service has also provided an opportunity for people to attend a local ‘Coffee Drop In’ at two locations in the Forth Valley area, facilitated by their Clinical Support Workers and Volunteers. The locations are The Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling, and The Leapark Hotel, Grangemouth, and are held on alternate months.

The event encourages patients and their loved ones to come together for a cuppa, an informal chat and for company away from a hospital environment. Unfortunately, during the Covid-19 pandemic the events were halted. However, we are pleased to say they were restarted in March 2023 and have been very well attended since.

The Macmillan One to One Team provide ongoing support and information to people affected by cancer by completing a Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA). They then signpost or refer on to appropriate services with the main purpose of giving people the right tools and support they need to be able to self manage. The Coffee Drop In events have allowed us to support people in a different way, effectively moving them on to find another meaningful way of being able to ‘self manage’. We invite other healthcare professionals to attend the events, such as Macmillan Money Matters, Macmillan Move More, Macmillan Buddy Service, Oral Health, and they all find the experience unique and uplifting.

We have asked for patient feedback on the recent drop ins. Patient experience quotes:

“A very knowledgeable afternoon with others going through this cancer journey. Hear others issues with meds and other problems after surgery. Thank you!”
“Very helpful! Happy faces and warm welcome.”
“Had nice time, lovely people and lovely tea – “etc”. Very helpful people.”
“Everything Macmillan does is fantastic. A wealth of information that has been invaluable to me through and after treatment. Coffee drop-ins are great. To meet in a social setting is relaxing, and informative.”

They have also expressed a wish to see more of the events, in different areas within Forth Valley so we are currently looking at other venues in Clackmannanshire and Falkirk.

Jane Niblo
Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist
Macmillan One to One
jane.niblo@nhs.scot