Patients receive cancer care that meets ‘international best practice standards’
Cancer patients at Southend Hospital, who receive radiotherapy treatment, are getting a service that meets international best practice standards.
The Department of Radiotherapy and Radiotherapy Physics, which uses radiation to help kill cancer cells, has been given this accreditation by CHKS, a leading provider of healthcare intelligence and quality improvement services.
This means that the services, which see cancer patients from right across Essex, are safe, reliable and of good quality. They also meet the high standards required by the Care Quality Commission, giving the hospital a huge seal of approval when it comes to cancer care.
Throughout the Covid pandemic the service has not stopped treating patients, so the news has come as a welcome boost to all those staff who have continued to help deliver essential care during lockdown.
Nicolai Greet, Head of Radiotherapy for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Every person who gets referred to us is getting treated, so it is wonderful to get this recognition. Our cancer patients come to us from all corners of Essex, so this accreditation gives them that extra confidence that they are receiving world class radiotherapy treatment.
"Accreditation is not given lightly, so it is a real beacon of quality and ensures that the whole radiotherapy patient experience at Southend, from door to door, is at the very highest level possible. The whole Radiotherapy team have done themselves and their patients proud."
Since lockdown began the service has already treated almost 1,800 patients for everything from more common cancers such as breast and prostate, to brachytherapy and highly specialised lung stereotactic ablative radiotherapy treatments. This is a highly focused radiation treatment that gives an intense dose of radiation concentrated on a tumour, while limiting the dose to the surrounding organs.
Moyra Amess, Associate Director for Assurance and Accreditation at CHKS, said: "The accreditation process requires dedication and commitment. Every organisation we make this award to has proved to our external assessors that its standards and processes meet international best practice standards. This is a significant achievement."