Our group has continued to fulfil its main purpose supporting patients and carers facing head and neck cancer, with a focus on laryngectomees.

This has been done by:
1.Providing an opportunity at every meeting for members to share their news and experiences and hear the response of other members.
2.Responding to requests for support from Chesterfield Royal Hospital, telephone calls and emails from individual patients or GP surgeries.
3.Providing laryngectomee emergency items and writing tablets on request.
4.Providing news and information on our own website and the old NALC site.

We have lost one member this year and it has been difficult for some others, dealing with a cancer recurrence or other serious illness.  We have continued to work with Chesterfield Royal, meeting patients on request, but sadly Support Worker Gemma is no longer able to attend meetings on a regular basis due to changes in clinic arrangements at the hospital.

Since February 2026 we have been running the former NALC website. The aim is to keep the information resources available for patients and families, updating where necessary. We are keeping up stocks of emergency cards, wrist bands and car stickers to send out on request.

We benefitted from a significant anonymous donation which will enable us to meet the additional costs of running the NALC website and providing emergency items for many years ahead. It will also ensure we can renew our publicity material and cover the cost of room hire, without having to seek donations from members.