Specialist cancer service selected for Royal College of Nursing Award
A specialist nursing service led by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
The dedicated facility, steered by UCLan’s Professor Kinta Beaver, sees nurses undertake follow-up telephone conversations with women treated for endometrial cancer. It has now been selected as a finalist in the Cancer Nursing Award category of the Royal College of Nursing’s (RCNi) Nurse Awards 2016.
Kinta said: “It’s wonderful news that our initiative has been shortlisted for the Cancer Nursing Award. We have been working collaboratively on this project with five English NHS hospital trusts so this nomination is a reward for all those nurses, patients and academics who have been involved."
"The telephone service has provided continuity of care and the opportunity for patients to build a trusting relationship with their specialist nurse in the comfort of their own homes."
“We’re delighted it’s been a success for the patients involved. The telephone service has provided continuity of care and the opportunity for patients to build a trusting relationship with their specialist nurse in the comfort of their own homes.”
The telephone service was launched to address issues raised by increasingly busy outpatient clinics. Patients were anxious and appointments were brief, which limited the opportunity for them to receive the information and support they need. Patients would often see a different junior doctor at each follow-up appointment.
Eight clinical nurse specialists from Preston, Blackpool, Burnley, Lancaster and Wigan telephoned patients at home, asking specific questions and addressing concerns, enabling patients to build a trusting relationship with their nurse.
An evaluation found that compared to those attending outpatient clinics, women in the telephone group were not as anxious, and were highly satisfied with the information and the service they received.
It did not take longer to have recurrences detected in the telephone group and the telephone service was not more expensive than the hospital service, even though patients had longer appointments. Interviews showed that patients valued the convenience and continuity of care.
"The RCNi Nurse Awards 2016 are a wonderful way to recognise those who innovate in their practice to make a real difference to patient care."
Lisa Berry, Editor of Cancer Nursing Practice, was on the shortlisting panel. She said: “The RCNi Nurse Awards 2016 are a wonderful way to recognise those who innovate in their practice to make a real difference to patient care.
“The standard of entries received for the Cancer Nursing category was exceptionally high. All the finalists showcase the best of nursing practice in this specialty and demonstrate the impact they are having on people’s lives.”
The profession’s top accolade for nursing excellence is sponsored by Macmillan Cancer Support and recognises nurses whose initiatives have led to better care for patients with cancer.
Kinta and her team will find out if they have won at a ceremony at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel, London, on 6 May.