The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has confirmed that it is closing its Financial Support Programme, which helps cancer patients who are facing financial hardship as a result of their diagnosis.

According to the ICS, the programme is being closed because ‘the demand has become too big for us to manage'.

It noted that since the economic downturn in 2008, demand for the programme has greatly increased. Last year alone, the ICS gave €1.8 million to patients facing financial hardship.

"As a charity, which is funded over 90% by the public, we have found ourselves unable to meet the huge growth in demand for financial support from cancer patients," the society said.

It emphasised that this was ‘a difficult choice to make', but due to a decrease in the amount of money fundraised last year, it was forced to choose between the ‘free and unique services' it provides and the programme.

The ICS also provides cancer information, advice and activities to support cancer patients, as well as a free palliative night nursing service. It also funds cancer research.

Continuing with the Financial Support Programme ‘could have put our free services at risk', it noted.

At the end of last year, the ICS released the findings of a survey entitled The Real Cost of Cancer, which revealed that patients and their families can face severe financial problems when diagnosed with cancer.

As a result of those findings and the closure of the Financial Support Programme, the society is initiating an advocacy campaign seeking immediate access to medical cards for cancer patients as soon as they are diagnosed.

The campaign is also seeking:
-Hospitals to allow cancer patients and their families to park for free
-A reduction in the Drug Payment Scheme from €114 to €85
-Community welfare officers to recognise the major impact on self-employed cancer patients and to ensure they are financially supported.