Should you require information and support, we are here. Please contact info@braintumourireland.com or call 0857219000 (Mon to Thurs for the phone line).
Brain Tumour Ireland also currently runs two online support groups, one for people with brain tumours and the other for their family members and carers. There are also two specific regional groups; one for the North-West and one for the South-East.
Please see below or get in touch with us if you would like to find out more about any of the groups.
Patient Support Group
Brain Tumour Ireland’s Patient Support Group is for people with a brain tumour and it seeks to facilitate peer to peer support.
The group currently meets online and is free to attend. To register your place, please contact info@braintumourireland.com
North-West Support Group
Brain Tumour Ireland, in conjunction with Cancer Care West, has a brain tumour support group for the North-West region.
Please email info@braintumourireland.com or call Cancer Care West on 074 96 01901 for further information.
South-East Support Group
Brain Tumour Ireland, in conjunction with Eist Cancer Support Centre, has a brain tumour support group for the South-East and Central Leinster.
Please email info@braintumourireland.com or call Eist Cancer Support on 059 9139684 for further information.
Financial assistance
As a Brain Tumour patient you may be entitled to some financial assistance.
Financial support is available through a number of Government Departments and charitable organisations. It may be worth your while taking some time to browse the websites of the organisations listed below:
This department is responsible for the issuing of all Social Welfare payments. Some payments that may be made to Brain Tumour Patients who are unable to work include Illness Benefit, Partial Capacity Benefit, Invalidity Pension, Disability allowance or Mobility Allowance.
You may also be entitled to apply for the Supplementary Welfare Scheme which includes allowances such as Rent Allowance, Mortgage Interest Supplement, Exceptional Needs Payments and Dietary Supplements.
For the most up to date information on any of these payments and eligibility criteria please visit your local Social Welfare office or go to welfare.ie.
The Irish Cancer Society has also published a booklet ‘A Guide to Social Welfare Support for Cancer Patients and their Families’. Click here to access a copy of the guide.
As a Brain Tumour Patient you may be entitled to a medical card. People who hold a Medical Card are entitled to a range of Health Services free of charge. To qualify for a medical card your weekly income must be below a certain figure.
However, if your income is above the HSE income guidelines for your circumstances, you may still be entitled to a Medical Card on the grounds that paying for your medical costs causes you undue financial hardship. Such an example would be if you had an ongoing medical condition that required exceptional and regular medical treatment, or visits to the doctor or hospital. If the cost of this would cause you undue financial hardship, then you may get a card on these grounds.
For more information contact the HSE on 1850 241850 or go to www.hse.ie
If you do not qualify for a medical card you may be entitled to register for the Drugs Payment Scheme. Under the Drugs Payment Scheme you have to pay a maximum of €80 a month (from 1st March 2022) for approved prescribed drugs, medicines and certain appliances for use by yourself and your family in that month. The registration form for this scheme is available from pharmacies or from your Local Health Office. You can also download the DPS application form (pdf) . If you have any difficulties in completing the form, staff in your local pharmacy or Local Health Office will be happy to provide advice and assistance.
If you have private health insurance depending on the company you are with and the scheme you have you may be entitled to some assistance. For example certain companies cover you for a hairpiece following cancer treatment or a sum of money per night towards the cost of overnight accommodation (e.g. B&B, hotel, etc), if you have to travel over a specified distance for out-patient treatment. For full details on what you are entitled to contact your own health insurance company. The main insurance companies in Ireland are:
VHI – vhi.ie
Aviva – avivahealth.ie
Laya Healthcare (formerly Quinn Healthcare)- layahealthcare.ie
Practical assistance
As a Brain Tumour patient you may require some practical assistance such as the services or needs listed below. Click on an item for more information.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) may provide home help services to people who need them. Home help services are provided in order to assist people to remain in their own home. The service is generally free to medical card holders. Other people may be asked to pay in full or make a contribution towards the cost of the service. Home helps usually assist people with normal household tasks although they may also help with personal care.
The home help is expected to provide a set number of hours assistance each day or each week. The precise arrangements can usually be agreed between you and the Health Service Executive (HSE). You should apply to the local public health nurse, who assesses your need for the service and then processes the application to your Local Health Office.
If you require some adaptations to your house to facilitate you remaining in your home you may apply to the local authority for assistance.
There are currently two grant schemes available. The mobility aids grant scheme or the Housing adaptation grant scheme. You may only apply to one of these schemes and both are means tested.
For further information contact your local authority or visit citizensinformation.ie
The Irish Cancer Society operates two transport schemes.
- Care to Drive
The Care to Drive scheme offers a transport service for patients to and from treatment. This service is free and all drivers are volunteers. Patients must be attending participating hospitals.
- Travel2Care
Travel2Care is another transport scheme offered by the Irish Cancer Society to patients with genuine financial difficulties. This scheme offers help with the cost of public transport to and from treatment. This is funded by the National Cancer Control Program.
For the most up to date information on either of these schemes and how to access them please visit The Irish Cancer Society website.
As a Brain Tumour Patient you may need some medical appliances/equipment to assist you to live comfortably and safely in your own home. Examples of such equipment include hospital beds with specialised air mattress, food trays, wheelchairs, grab rails etc.. If you feel you may need such equipment talk to your local Public Health Nurse or Occupational Therapist.
Your occupational therapist will come to your home and make an assessment of your ability to function in relation to the normal requirements of living – dressing, eating, bathing, etc. Your home arrangements are also assessed and a decision is made as to what assistance you need by way of appliances. Occupational therapist services are generally available free of charge to medical card holders . If you do not have a medical card the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland can provide you with a list of registered occupational therapists in private practice. You can contact the association on (0)1 633 7222 or alternatively visit their website aoti.ie .
In addition you may also be able to purchase some equipment independently from medical equipment specialist retailers. A useful website is assist.ie . This website is provided by the Citizens Information Board. It contains information on assistive technology and a directory of products available from Irish suppliers for people with disabilities, mobility problems and older people.
Other support groups
Cancer Support Groups- Nationwide
The Irish Cancer Society runs a number of cancer support groups and one-to-one patient support around the country. Further information can be found here.
Alternatively you can call the Irish Cancer Society’s National Cancer Helpline on 1800 200 700. The helpline operates Monday- Thursday from 9am- 7pm and Friday from 9am-5pm.
Irish Cancer Society Peer-to-Peer Support
Many patients find it helpful to talk to someone who has had a diagnosis of cancer and who has recovered. The Irish Cancer Society can put you in touch with someone who has been trained to give you emotional and practical support. All volunteers have had a personal experience of cancer and understand the emotional and physical impact of the disease. If you would like to make contact with a volunteer, please call the National Cancer Helpline 1800 200 700.
