Showcasing cancer support staff as NHS celebrates its 75th birthday

Showcasing the people who support cancer patients and their families as the NHS marks its 75^th birthday

The vital role of cancer support workers is being showcased by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance as the NHS celebrates its 75^th birthday.

Cancer support workers provide help, guidance and advice to people with cancer and their families after diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

They work as part of the cancer care team alongside registered practitioners to improve care for people with cancer. They work with other professionals supporting patients with non-complex needs to allow registered practitioners to focus their expertise on managing more complex clinical care.

Jason Pawluk, Programme Director for the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance said: “On Wednesday 7 July, the NHS will mark 75 years of service. One of the themes of the event is how the NHS evolved and adapted to meet the needs of successive generations.

We felt it was fitting to highlight the valuable work of cancer support workers who play such as significant role in the lives of people with cancer and their families.

“They make an incredible difference and can make a positive difference to the care and treatment of people with cancer.”

Alisha Gray, Lung Cancer Care Coordinator and Navigator at Harrogate District Hospital, has been in her current role for five years.

“I act as a single point of contact for patients and carers, triaging enquiries, dealing with the ones that I know I can resolve within my capabilities and escalating to my cancer nurse specialist colleagues or to the consultants as required,” she explained.

“I make referrals – for example, complimentary therapy, dieticians, welfare and benefits, clinical psychology, and signposting to other resources and groups which could be of benefit.

“Other aspects of my role include chasing investigation reports in time for planned clinic appointments and requesting bloods prior to CT scans. I also have responsibility for maintaining a comprehensive spreadsheet, summarising where patients are on any given pathway. This helps with data collection for audits, which I have been involved in.”

One patient who valued Alisha’s help and support is Adrian who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020.

“I have been undergoing cancer treatment at the Robert Ogden Centre in Harrogate for three years and I am so grateful for all the help, advice and kindness I have received from my cancer care co-ordinator Lish. I cannot thank her enough.”

Sharon Allen, a Cancer Care Co-ordinator with the Bradford Uro-Oncology team, said: “Over the last few years the introduction of personalised care into cancer services has changed my original role to become patient facing, offering non-clinical support and advice and signposting patients to specialist health and wellbeing services locally, regionally and nationally.”

Jill was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021. “Since then, the ongoing care and support my husband and I have received from my cancer care co-ordinator has been, quite simply, invaluable,” she said.

“From the outset her calm, assured presence has given us confidence and clarity. She's managed to demystify processes, terminology and data which would otherwise have left us feeling more lost, more helpless. We need someone to join the dots for us; countless appointments, scans, consultants etc are bewildering; without her, navigating our way through it all would be impossible.”

Ends

Cancer Support Workers work as part of the cancer care team alongside registered practitioners to improve care for people with cancer. They work with other professionals supporting patients with non-complex needs to allow registered practitioners to focus their expertise on managing more complex clinical care.