Cancer patients from across Kingston have been granted access to a range of support services, including free gardening groups and benefits advice.

The new service, called the Macmillan social prescribing service, is open to everyone in the borough who is living with cancer.

It provides access to community-based services, such as employment or benefits advice, carer support and counselling, as well as help accessing activities, including gardening groups, yoga and community choirs.

Nadine Lane, the new social prescribing link worker at the Surbiton Health Centre, will support for cancer patients on how to get back to work, become more active and socialise as part of her new role.

She said: ‘’I am really looking forward to supporting local people affected by cancer, their families and carers.

“Whether it’s by phone or in person, we can explore which community-based services and activities are the best fit and help patients get back to living their lives.”

Dr Naz Jivani, chair of Kingston Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Often people, following the diagnosis of cancer, have their lives turned upside down.

“The support that is provided by the Macmillan Social Prescribing can help, in some way, to create some stability and support in their lives and the lives of their carers.

Every day, over 90 people in London learn they have cancer, a number expected to nearly double by 2030.