'THE Mustard Tree is a happy place' according to the cancer support centre's manager, Sue Smith.

Based adjoining the Oncology Unit at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, the Mustard Tree Macmillan Centre is the only dedicated information and support centre for cancer patients in the South West, and supports many patients and their families from West Devon along with other areas of Devon and Cornwall.

Jan Glover is the information officer who has particular responsibility for the West Devon area, and one day a week she visits their satellite Triangle Centre at Tavistock Hospital.

Information is a basic element of the service. 'It's not only clinical information about the disease and treatment,' said manager Sue Smith. 'That is an important element, but people may need information about travel, insurance, wills, benefits — a whole range of subjects.'

Sue said their aim was to make people feel comfortable and to encourage them to raise problems as and when they arose. 'When you are in shock and trying to cope you don't take it all in at once and you don't necessarily read leaflets.

'People think it won't be cheerful, but the Mustard Tree is a happy place. People can come here and talk to each other or to our staff and volunteers about things which they may not feel able to discuss at home,' she said.

Anyone affected by cancer is welcome to drop in to the centre — whether patients themselves, their closest relatives or carers.

The idea for the name came from Dr Sheila Cassidy, who helped set up the centre at the former Freedom Fields Hospital in 1994, and is taken from the Bible. But the Mustard Tree has no religious affiliation.

Macmillan paid for the new building at Derriford Hospital, which opened in 1998, and three of the centre's staff are temporarily funded by Macmillan at present.

The centre is designed to be an immediately friendly place. Throughout the week it is home to many activities: complementary therapy, look good/feel better sessions and a number of specialist support groups such as for young mothers with breast cancer or for bereaved children. There are also popular talks on gardening and other topics.

Press officer Peter Hildrew said NHS quality assurance checks had said the Mustard Tree provided 'an excellent facility for patient-centred care, with a good range of patient information available'.

The centre was not without problems, however, he added: 'There are waiting lists, notably for confidential counselling and complementary therapy, and a funding gap. Only a fraction of the costs are covered by the NHS.'

A fundraiser has been employed to try to ensure the services can be sustained for the future and staff themselves are supportive in this field.

One of the consultants is running in the Exeter Marathon and a chemotherapy nurse is undertaking a sponsored cycle ride through the Pyrenees.

Many of the centre volunteers have personal experience of cancer and are vital to the social support. With around 10,000 attendances by patients per year, a lot of cups of tea and coffee are needed!

For more information about the centre or how to help with fund-raising, contact Juliet Cole on 01752 763977.