The future of a service which has helped more than 1,600 Borderers affected by cancer since August 2009 is in doubt due to funding concerns.
Almost £5million of financial gains have been secured by the Borders Macmillan Welfare Benefits Partnership, which is partly based at the Macmillan Centre in the Borders General Hospital and is staffed by two council employees.
However, despite the local authority and Macmillan agreeing to split the costs for a further three years, its future after March 2016 is uncertain.
A report to councillors last week said Macmillan is unlikely to be able to provide further funding after 2016, and that funds from within the council or partner organisations may not be available in three years’ time.
A council spokesman told TheSouthern: “At this stage it would be the intention to continue working in partnership with Macmillan and other partners after 2016, but it would be necessary to develop the knowledge of cancer-related issues and benefit matters among partners and stakeholders across the Borders to allow for greater sustainability of advice to people affected by cancer in the longer term.”
The service has exceeded initial targets for financial gains, set at £800,000 per year. In the first year it actually achieved £1.5million, and it has remained similar since then.
Tom McInnes, Macmillan development manager, said: “Services like this are essential for helping to ensure that people access everything they are entitled to. The service has had a remarkable impact in the three years it has been running.
“Macmillan are in continual discussions with the council around the sustainability of such a vital service,” he added.
An anticipated rise in the Borders’ older population and an eight per cent increase in cancer cases up to 2020 is expected to increase demand for the service.