New dedicated support worker for sick children and their families funded by charity

Thursday 31 March 2016

Young cancer patients and their families will be better supported in future thanks to a local charity.

The Oscar Maclean Foundation is helping make sure parents have more time to focus on their poorly children by funding a new point of contact for them at Overdale.

The Foundation was set up in 2014 by Alan and Nara Maclean to celebrate the life of their son, Oscar who lost his life after a spirited fight against a malignant brain tumour.

The Foundation is paying for Health to recruit a Parent Partnership Worker and funding the role for the next two years. The new recruit will be based at the Child Development Centre and will be a consistent contact for families – giving them emotional and practical support and getting the right team together to help them.

Dr Lisa Perkins, the Head of Service for the Child Development Centre, said: “I am delighted that the Oscar Maclean Foundation is providing funding to extend the provision of parent partnership support to children with serious health conditions.

“Families can be overwhelmed by the number of health professionals and other services, particularly if their child also needs to access hospital services in the UK. It can be very difficult to find the right information at the right time. I am confident that the new post will make a real difference to families.”

Nara Maclean - Oscar's mum - said that the charity was dedicated to supporting causes to help and support young people suffering from cancer.

She said: “For today and with every single day to come, we will try to change this world into a slightly better place by supporting worthy community causes aimed to help young cancer patients in Jersey and their families, in Oscar's name.

"We would like to thank all our supporters for their enthusiastic efforts, helping us grow and deliver this vital post. A special thank you goes to the Jersey Triathlon, the Jersey Rugby Club (where Oscar played as a junior member) and St Michael's School for their outstanding support.”