Gynae oncology team nominated for prestigious award

18 July 2024

The team behind the Nurse-led Post-radiotherapy Follow-up Clinic at the Cancer Centre has been shortlisted at this year's Nursing Times Awards.

The project, co-lead by Sarah Burton, Macmillan Lead Gynae Oncology CNS, and Tamarha Jones, Gynae Oncology CNS, was nominated in the Ingrid Fuchs Cancer Nursing Award category which recognises nurses in oncology and the skilled clinical care and intensive support they provide.

Through the clinic, patients with endometrial or cervical cancer have an hour-long appointment where they can address toxicities as a result of their treatment, discuss premature menopause and talk through the role of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and the symptoms associated.

Previously, patients would than an initial 15-minute appointment in a consultant-led follow-up clinic with a number of additional appointments to follow.

Both Sarah and Tamarha, Co-leads of the Nurse-led Post-radiotherapy Follow-up Clinic, said:

"We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for the Prestigious Ingrid Fuchs Cancer Nursing Times award for our Innovative Nurse Led Post Radiotherapy Clinic for women who have been treated for Endometrial or Cervical Cancer. This clinic is the first of its kind to address bowel, bladder, vaginal and menopausal side effects of treatment in one clinic . Patient feedback has shown 100% patient satisfaction.

"Together we have a combined 46 years’ experience in women’s health and are extremely passionate about improving women’s treatment, care and experiences, we feel this clinic demonstrates we have listened to their needs and we are delivering ‘true patient centred care.’"

Since being piloted in July 2023, the clinic has received incredible feedback, with 95% of the patients surveyed saying they were extremely satisfied being referred, and 97% reporting they had confidence in their CNS “all of the time.”

100% of patients felt they were made as comfortable as possible during their internal examination and that their CNS was able to answer all of their questions.

Comments to the team included: “They listened to my concerns and made me feel at ease” and “I was made to feel relaxed and comfortable and my needs were most important.” Another comment said “I couldn't have wished for better care.”

The Nursing Times Awards will be at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane in London on Wednesday 23 October 2024.