Watch the video to find out who has won this prestigious nursing award. Good luck to all the finalists!
The finalists for the Excellence in Cancer Research Nursing Award
Amparo Domingo Lacasa
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Ms Domingo Lacasa has been nominated by a colleague for the way in which she has taken on a new, innovative clinical practice facilitator role in the 100-strong research team at University College London Hospital’s clinical trials unit and made it a success through her drive, enthusiasm and evidence-based approach. To ensure standardised, safe and effective care for patients enrolled in trials, she has designed, piloted and evaluated an induction programme for new starters, assigned them a mentor and given them eight-week supernumerary status. She has also introduced a programme of clinical skills training and reflective practice sessions.
Early phase clinical trials team
Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
Led by advanced research practitioner Jennie Derham, this team has been making early phase trials accessible to all patients in Cheshire and Merseyside many of whom have exhausted their treatment options. It has developed a successful early phase trials clinic after securing resources and space. The team raises awareness of the new service across the trust with a monthly newsletter and has seen an increase in referrals. The team’s work means that it can open and manage a larger portfolio of trials, and it has been able to offer more early phase treatment options to patients.
Ben Hood
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The National Experimental Cancer Medicine Nurse Steering Group was concerned that nurse recruitment, gaps in undergraduate education and lack of awareness of the role of clinical research nurses would have an impact on early and late phase cancer research and the patients who might benefit from it. Steering group member Mr Hood volunteered to develop a pilot project to highlight the role of clinical research nurses in cancer services that could be used across the UK. He delivered education sessions to 2,000 students in north east England, and presentations for Edinburgh Napier University and is currently developing this work into an E-learning resource for undergraduate nurses in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research. There are plans to develop the work nationally.
Greater Manchester education team
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Led by Sharon Woolley, this team has worked enthusiastically to ensure a package of training is available for all research nurses who support oncology clinical research in their practice. The training covers the basics of cancer and its treatments as well as helping nurses appreciate the impact of a cancer diagnosis on a patient and their family. Participants’ improved knowledge and skills, and understanding of patient pathways and the breadth of treatments available is enhancing the patient experience and the support they receive. The nurses’ response to the training has been extremely positive and there is a waiting list for further cohorts.
The research and innovation team
Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
This nurse team’s strategy of continual improvement and review and its work to embed research as part of Clatterbridge’s culture has resulted in more patients receiving faster access to pioneering clinical trials. It has been central to the development and introduction of a new feasibility process in which nurses are involved at a much earlier stage. New trial set-up times have been slashed from 198 days to 27 days. There has also been a significant increase in recruitment with 975 patients recruited by month nine of 2019/20 compared with 513 patients recruited in the whole of 2018/19. The number of commercial studies open at the centre has increased from 20 to 27.
Related articles
