A new service has started at Queen’s Hospital – offering cancer patients a range of therapies to help ease any suffering.

Patients can now access therapies such as aromatherapy, reflexology and Indian head massage on-site.

People being treated for cancer can often feel stressed and anxious, as well as experiencing pain and nausea.

Complementary therapies are known to help alleviate these.

The therapy room in the oncology department was officially opened this week, and is now treating patients.

The service was made possible thanks to a donation from Georgia’s Teenage Cancer Appeal (GTCA) – a charity set up in memory of 14-year-old Georgia Cordery who died at the age of 14.

She was treated at Queen’s Hospital.

Her father Peter visited the unit to officially open the new facility.

Therapist Julie Campbell will be running the service, and has recruited trained volunteers to help her carry out as many treatments as possible.

“I have been working with cancer patients for a long time, and it is astonishing to see the difference that therapies can make,” said Julie.

“It can reduce stress, help people sleep and reduce the symptoms of cancer. It’s hugely rewarding to see how much it means to people.”

Julie will even be spending time in the cancer day unit, offering reflexology to people as they are receiving their chemotherapy.

Divisional Nurse Judith Douglas said: “This service will mean an awful lot to our patients. The therapy room is an oasis of calm and will be extremely well used.”

Staff working in the unit will be offering therapies to patients and promoting the new service.

The GTCA has donated around �40,000 to the Trust, and has also funded the refurbishment of the sensory room on the children’s ward