
The Getting Started initiative was introduced by the cancer support charity Maggie’s in partnership with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and is available to all patients preparing for chemotherapy or immunotherapy at St James’s University Hospital.
Designed to complement standard pre-assessment procedures, the programme supports patients from the beginning of their cancer journey. Sessions include a short film featuring Trust staff, Maggie’s staff and former patients sharing personal insights into the treatment process. Staff work with small groups to address key topics including cancer understanding, available treatments, potential side effects, and effective management. Family members or friends can accompany patients for additional support.
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with 96% of attendees recommending the programme and 90% expressing high satisfaction. Participants appreciate receiving information in a non-clinical setting, helping them retain details and feel less isolated.
Amanda Procter, Centre Head at Maggie’s Yorkshire, said: “The feedback from people who have attended Getting Started so far is they felt they had a better understanding of what was going to happen during chemo or immunotherapy and what they could do to manage side effects. Families have also said they have felt more informed and involved in the process.”
Staff see the benefits too. Sadie Smith and William Toase, Pre-Assessment Nurses said, “We have observed that patients and relatives who have attended Getting Started are more comfortable and confident when attending their pre-assessment appointment and starting treatment.”
Maggie’s, established in 1996, continues to provide life-changing support to cancer patients and their families and is funded through voluntary donations.
[Pictured from left: Helen Nicholson, Cancer Support Specialist; Sadie Smith, Pre-assessment Nurse]