31-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Cancer patient highlights impact of therapy journey
The Cancer Psychological Support (CaPS) Service, delivered by Hywel Dda University Health Board, supports cancer patients in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire.
Funded by Hywel Dda Health Charities, the service began as a two-year pilot project in 2019–21 and continued with further funding until 2025.
It has since become part of the core cancer services funded by the health board.
Sharon, a patient who used the service, said: "I think it actually unlocked the real me.
"That's what it actually did.
"I'm now looking at things in a different way, I can deal with my thoughts and generally see the positive side of things, rather than the negative."
She also praised the support of her therapist and said: "I was able to explore all sorts of things with Helen.
"It helped to talk to someone I didn't know."
The CaPS service provides psychological support to cancer patients aged 16 and over across the health board area.
Specialist counsellors are based in each of the three counties and receive an average of 23 referrals per month.
Gina Beard, lead cancer nurse at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: "There are no waiting lists at all.
"Referrals are received, assessed, and contacted within two weeks, which means that cancer patients in the area get the psychological support they need very quickly."
Each patient or carer is offered up to 12 counselling sessions, with more than 3,000 sessions delivered annually.
The team also provides training for cancer staff to help them offer psychological support in their daily work, such as when breaking bad news or managing difficult conversations.
The health board has become the first in Wales to offer Level 3 psychological support for cancer patients as a core, NHS-funded service.
Nicola Llewelyn, head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: "This would not have happened if the project had not received charitable funds which enabled cancer services to identify the needs of patients and the impact of providing a service that met those needs.
"Thanks to the generosity of local communities, we are able to fund projects like this which are above and beyond core NHS expenditure, and which make such a big difference to the experiences of patients, carers and staff.
"Never has the charity been more important in helping deliver the very best care and experiences for patients and staff."
