Conservative MP Simon Jupp praised support services and thanked volunteers during a visit to FORCE Cancer Charity at Ottery St Mary Hospital.

Earlier this month, Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, visited Ottery St Mary Hospital and met with the Chief Executive Officer of FORCE Cancer Charity, Meriel Fishwick, to learn more about their services and thank volunteers for their work in supporting cancer patients and their families.

The charity’s CEO toured the chemotherapy treatment area with Jupp who had an opportunity to meet with cancer patients and discuss their experience of accessing FORCE’s services.

Focusing on providing care, advice and support to cancer patients and families, FORCE became a charity in 1987 and moved its East Devon service to Ottery St Mary in 2020, going on to help establish a new oncology hub at the community hospital.

FORCE Cancer Charity provides free support and information to anyone affected by cancer at its centre in Exeter and at local community hospitals, like Ottery St. Mary.

The charity offers counselling, group sessions, benefits advice, specialist physiotherapy and exercise guidance and other health and wellbeing support.

Jupp, who was elected as East Devon MP in 2019, was impressed by the extensive support on offer and thanked the FORCE volunteers for their dedicated service to the community while also urging other volunteers to come forward to assist FORCE in their work.

The MP said: “The best care is normally the care that we receive closest to our homes and around our support networks. Force is providing just that with its community-focused service at Ottery St Mary Hospital.”

“I saw the positive impact the charity had during conversations with cancer patients who couldn’t speak more highly of their fantastic team and volunteers - a big thanks is owed to them all and the NHS staff providing care from the hospital too which is a key community asset.”

“If you can spare any time to help Force out and make a similar difference to people’s lives, I’d encourage you to sign up as a volunteer. I promise to continue fighting to protect our local NHS and bring more services closer to home in our own communities.”

Meriel Fishwick, Chief Executive Officer of FORCE Cancer Charity, who was with Jupp on his visit, said; “We were very pleased to be able to show Simon the great work the RDUH Cancer Services Team do at Ottery St Mary Hospital supported by FORCE Cancer Charity.”

“Simon heard first-hand the benefits to patients of chemotherapy treatment closer to home and he listened to the rewards of being a volunteer. FORCE volunteers now offer a meet and greet service 5 days a week at the hospital.”

“Alongside chemotherapy treatment, cancer patients having treatment in Ottery St Mary can also access counselling, physio assessments and complementary therapies delivered by the FORCE Team.  The success of these combined services really highlights the benefits of partnership working.”