A charity is investing over £100,000 to develop the cancer nursing workforce in north Cumbria.
Macmillan Cancer Support has warned that too many people in the North of England cannot access specialist cancer care, with too few Macmillan Cancer nurse specialists employed across the region, and over a third of specialist nurses approaching retirement nationally.
To address the issue, the charity has launched a development Programme, investing almost £4.5 million across the North of England.
It includes around £106,000 funding over two years for a specialist cancer nurse development post at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.
The trust runs the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary and community hospitals in the north and west of the county.
Sian Storey, of Longtown, has started as a trainee clinical nurse specialist in the gynaecology oncology team at the trust, part of the two-year Macmillan programme.
The 26-year-old, who qualified as a nurse over four years ago and is based at the Cumberland Infirmary, has previously worked on the emergency admissions ward and also same day emergency care unit, where she first developed her interest in cancer care.
Sian said: “I’d never have had the opportunity to get this role, and eventually become a clinical nurse specialist, if it wasn’t for Macmillan’s programme. I’ve got the chance to gain vital knowledge and ‘hands on’ experience working closely with senior cancer nurse specialists.
“I also get the chance to help improve cancer patients’ experience by building a rapport, and ongoing relationship, with patients and support them throughout their cancer pathway, from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond, which is so rewarding about the role. I absolutely love it.”
The new roles include shadowing senior cancer care specialists, as well as providing the opportunity to build up academic skills and to take on research, whilst preparing nurses to become fully-fledged cancer specialists at the end of their term.
Sian will also receive support and supervision from a dedicated project manager, as well as from a Macmillan partnership manager or partnership quality lead.
Kiyla Murray, lead cancer nurse at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Macmillan Workforce Development Programme is a fantastic way to support junior nurses in-house. It gives them time to shadow their more senior cancer specialist colleagues, without constantly having the pressure of being called back onto the ward, as well as providing the opportunity to experience the role first-hand.
“Cancer nurse specialist roles don’t come up very often, and they often don’t move around but instead stay for years. But when experience leaves how do you replace that evolutionary experience if not by allowing others to work alongside and learn the skills whilst shadowing more experienced colleagues.
“This programme will allow candidates, like Sian, the training time and space to develop into the specialist roles, ensuring we’re bringing the brightest and best into our cancer nursing services, as well as developing the cancer nursing leadership of the future.”
Heather McLean, Macmillan’s head of partnerships, added: “Macmillan Cancer nurse specialists are the people at the heart of cancer care, this unique role makes a huge difference to people diagnosed with cancer and their families at a very distressing time in their lives.
“There are currently a huge number of specialist cancer nurse vacancies across the North of England, because it’s increasingly difficult to get people with the right knowledge and skills, who are ready to step into those specialist nursing posts.”
