Ingrid Fuchs Cancer Nursing Award
Winner
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Nurse-led initiative in improving prostate cancer pathway
The trust recognised that much of the prostate cancer treatment pathway was consultant led but could be done by a nurse. A new pathway was implemented for high- and low-risk active surveillance to help reduce variation in follow-up and avoid losing patients to follow-up.
Through the nurse-led clinic, patients receive more- holistic care and have more time to discuss their treatment plan and any concerns with a specialist. They benefit from a more person-centred approach and, as they see the same three professionals, continuity of care is better. Fewer patients have been lost to follow-up, patient safety has improved and appointments in other urology clinics have been freed up.
Finalists
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust: Implementing a virtual clinic on Noona
Noona is a web/app-based platform that enables patients to record their own outcome measures. A virtual nurse-led clinic was developed to monitor patients on systemic anti-cancer treatment. More than 100 virtual consultations have been performed, effciency has improved, patient engagement has increased and feedback has been extremely positive.
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust: Digitise to Prioritise: combining digital intelligence and integrative therapies, to reduce distress in oncology
Despite advancements in medicine, some oncology patients still experience psychological and physical distress. A protocol was created with an algorithm to ofer them the most appropriate contact (virtual or face to face) and interventions, such as talk or touch therapies. A digital referral system was designed to assess distress levels, so patients could be prioritised and supported quickly.
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust: Nurse-led salvage clinic
This project aimed to develop a unique service for patients with relapsed aggressive lymphomas who are eligible for stem cell transplant and high-dose chemotherapy, and to improve the effciency and coordination of the care pathway. Better communication between teams has led to a smoother process and prompt assessment by the transplant team, and reduced the need for holding/ bridging treatment before transplant.
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust: Transforming the Cheshire and Merseyside Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression Service
This seven-day service provides a single point of contact for primary care, nine emergency departments, 10 haematology teams, 34 community/hospice teams, and surgical and oncology provisions. In 2022, the coordinated pathway led to more than 1,200 people with a suspected spinal emergency receiving earlier diagnosis, consultant oncologist advice and coordinated multiprofessional care.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust: Acute oncology and non-specific symptoms service
A senior cancer nurse was appointed to support cancer patients who presented at the emergency department (ED) of two hospitals and to streamline services across sites. A referral pathway to the acute oncology service (AOS) was created and a responsive expert cancer emergency nursing team established.
Support and experiences of people with cancer attending the ED have improved, as has multidisciplinary team working.
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Seven-day systemic anti- cancer therapies service
Delivering systemic anti-cancer therapy had become unmanageable in a Monday-Friday service, with treatment delays and overbooking that led to care being compromised, staf burnout and high staf turnover. Expanding the service to seven days has resulted in treatment being started sooner, safer care, improved staf retention rates, and greater patient satisfaction due to appointments lasting longer and being more widely available.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: Cancer Internship Programme
This scheme was developed and piloted across two trusts to tackle the challenge of recruiting to cancer clinical nurse specialist roles. Nurses developed more specialist knowledge, experience and skills by working directly with cancer teams and those in cancer-related roles for 7.5 hours per week over 12 months. They had a clinical supervisor and formal accreditation for the programme, which is now being rolled out regionally.
Swansea Bay University Health Board: 10@10
This cost-neutral teaching programme involves cancer nurses presenting an aspect of cancer care for 10 minutes every morning at 10am. Introduced in the health board’s four cancer treatment areas, it utilises the team’s expertise to deliver education without a need to release staf for study leave. Initial staf resistance changed: they now attend daily, hold their own sessions and come up with ideas for future talks. In 15 weeks, 1,152 people attended 208 sessions on 189 topics.