Charis Cancer Care awarded Macmillan Quality Standard for the 5th consecutive time

We are delighted to announce that Charis has again been awarded the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark® (MQEM).

Launched in January 2010, MQEM was the first ever standard for assessing whether cancer facilities meet the holistic needs of people living with cancer. MQEM aims to set the highest possible standards for cancer care environments, driving forward the design and use of these facilities, based on a robust understanding of the needs of people affected by cancer.

Charis Cancer Care is the only independent charity in Northern Ireland to hold the MQEM award and first obtained its quality assessment in 2012 which is reassessed every 3 years.

The report stated ‘Charis Cancer Care exceeded the level required to retain the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark® and is to be congratulated on this achievement’ and one of the assessment team advised “Charis house is such a great place and glad it’s getting the recognition it deserves.”

The Macmillan Quality Environment Mark expects a place that:

▪ is welcoming and accessible to all;

▪ respects the privacy and dignity of all users;

▪ supports the comfort and well-being of all users;

▪ gives users choice and control; and

▪ listens to the users’ voice

Charis is highly recommended by clients and Joanne* (name changed for confidentiality reasons) has been through 3 diagnoses of head and neck cancer with gruelling treatments which she described as  a ‘war’ over a period of 10 years told us:-

“Psychological recovery, acceptance and adjusting to a life that is now foreign, is a whole other battle. In the case of Head and Neck Cancer patients, this change is often visible. You have to adjust to being noticed for visually differing from the norm. Rebuilding life after cancer is a battle most don’t consider. Survival is pointless if you don’t recover psychologically as a person. Over the last 10 years Charis has been my safe place, my tranquility, my relief from the noise of cancer. I have turned to them 3 times now to help me rebuild my changed life. Charis has ensured I have recovered as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, but most importantly, I’ve recovered for myself. If you don’t take time to do this, you wont recover from the journey of cancer, it will always be a cloud instead of a shadow. There simply isn’t anywhere like Charis, they understand cancer, and, more importantly, they understand that behind every cancer journey is a person. Medical teams rebuild the physical, in my case, Charis has helped rebuild the person. How privileged we are to have Charis to turn to.”

Imelda McGucken MBE, Director of Care for Charis expressed her joy upon receiving the MQEM.  “We are absolutely delighted to receive the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark for the 5^th time. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and care of our dedicated trustees and team at Charis. We are also incredibly grateful to the wonderful clients who come to us for support. Without the unwavering dedication of our team, this accomplishment would not have been possible.”