Staff member awarded for organising vital wellbeing events for cancer patients
Cancer patients have been attending virtual health and wellbeing events, sharing their experiences and getting helpful advice from clinicians.
It’s thanks to the idea of a member of hospital staff, Susan Barry, a personalised cancer care co-ordinator at Basildon Hospital.
She has now been given a monthly Values Award for her work. The event was initially set up as a one-off in 2018, but it has been so popular that it has now become something that happens regularly.
Each event has clinical nurse specialists, cancer trained personal trainers and counsellors on hand to answer any questions patients have, covering everything from finances to medications.
Susan said: “The events see up to 150 patients come together four times a year to share their experiences with each other. When Covid hit, it just moved online and is continuing to grow.
“It means patients can log on from home and still get advice and watch presentations from medical experts. It is wonderful to see so many patients are finding it helpful.”
Her manager, Katy Low, head of nursing for Macmillan, palliative and end of life care, said: “Sue gives so much support to all of the teams she helps. I’m pleased to say that the service, which started in Basildon, has now been expanded throughout Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.”