HCA - London's premier private cancer network

HCA Gold Standard Cancer Care includes a complete range of complementary services, so patients receive truly holistic treatment. We have developed our suite of complementary therapies to help patients and their families cope with every stage of care.

Practitioners of complementary therapy at HCA are all qualified professionals who are highly trained to provide care for cancer patients. The range of therapies available is geared towards helping patients and their families achieve the highest degree of wellness possible.

Complementary therapies are available before during and after treatment and during your course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy complementary therapies are provided free of charge.

The aim of palliative care is to achieve the best possible quality of life for any person with a life threatening illness. It also provides a support system for Family and Carers during the patient's journey.

HCA Cancer Network provides palliative care services by direct access to a palliative care team. Our team consists of a clinical nurse specialist with the support of a named consultant in palliative medicine. Each team liaises with the multidisciplinary team (including among others pharmacists, physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, occupational therapists and complimentary therapists) to provide a clinically sound and holistic approach.

Each of the sites have forged excellent links with the relevant local community services in and around London and parts of the UK. In doing so, we provide a seamless link between appropriate support at home as well as in hospital.

For more information about the role of Palliative care please follow the link http://www.ncpc.org.uk/palliative_care.html

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils by a trained therapist to improve a patient´s wellbeing. Patients can either inhale the oils or the aromatherapist may mix them with a cream and massage the patient, allowing them to absorb the oil through the skin. Aromatherapy can help patients relax, or make them feel refreshed and stimulated.

Reiki practitioners are trained to use their hands to move healing energy throughout a patient´s body. The practice has been known to produce feelings of warmth and tingling and can help patients relax or feel energised. Patients remain clothed and the Reiki practitioner places their hands on or just above the patient´s body to manipulate their energy.

Reflexology is based on the theory that organs and tissues in the body are connected to certain reflex points in the feet. Reflexologists apply gentle pressure to these points to promote relaxation throughout the body. HCA provides a gentle form of reflexology as a complementary relaxation therapy.

We understand that a cancer diagnosis is a difficult time for patients and their families. The goal of counselling is to help you explore your concerns and make sense of what can be a very confusing and distressing time.

You may feel anxious, fearful or depressed when you receive your diagnosis. These feelings are perfectly natural and a trained, professional counsellor can often provide the support you need to cope with these emotions. Counsellors can help you talk about your diagnosis with your loved ones and they can also help you deal with the side effects of treatment and boost your confidence and self-esteem.

Counselling is available to inpatients and outpatients and the sessions are always kept completely confidential.