c3 magazine - winter/spring 2013

C3

INVESTMENT IN LIVERPOOL

UPDATE

Hollyoaks stars help to launch our mobile chemotherapy unit

NEW MERSEY WARD OPENS ITS DOORS

Winter/Spring 2013

FREEPlease take me home

The Clatterbridge Clinic Health & Wellbeing Bladder Cancer Study Papillon Appeal

Read more on pages 16 and 17

Welcome

2012 was another busy 12 months for everyone here at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, and as we welcome in 2013 it’s clear that there are lots more exciting developments on the horizon. C3 will continue to keep you up to date with everything that is happening across the Trust and I hope you enjoy reading all our news.

C’s. Centre, Clinic, Charity.Research and development is an incredibly important part of what we do here at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. By taking part in clinical trials we can support the development and testing of innovative new drugs and treatments and ensure we are able to offer our patients the very latest in cancer treatment. On page 10 you can read about a groundbreaking trial the Trust is leading on for the treatment of bladder cancer and hear first hand from one of our patients how he has benefited from taking part in the study.

The centre pages of this edition feature a look back to the origins of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, as we mark 55 years of service to cancer care in the region. It really is fantastic to see just how far the Trust has come and the journey we have taken to become one of the largest networked cancer centres in the country.

As an NHS Foundation Trust we have a responsibility to give local communities the opportunity to get involved in how the hospital is run by becoming members of the Trust. More importantly however, we need the input of our members to make sure we can develop and deliver services that really meet the needs of our patients.

On Page 7 you can read about one of our members, Doreen Mosedale, and the ways in which she has become involved with the Trust and supported us to improve services and treatments. Our members really are valued by everyone at the Centre.

Andrew CannellChief Executive

Contents02 Welcome

04 A brave battle

06 Clatterbridge goes international

07 News

08 New year, new you

09 New Mersey ward

10 Beating the bugs

Bladder cancer clinical trial

11 NHS North West Games

Four great nurses, one Great Wall 12 55 years of outstanding cancer care

14 trueBEAM technology

15 Yvonne Tsao - Foundation Trust Governor

16 Chemotherapy at Clatterbridge

18 Local businesses support Clatterbridge

Spotlight on giving

19 Dr Peter Kirkbride - Our new Medical Director

20 Long service awards

Health and wellbeing

21 Papillon Appeal

22 Two cities on two wheels

23 Puzzle page and recipe

24 Your views

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THIS ISSUE

A brave battleIn 2008, Royal Air Force Warrant Officer

Tony Darnell had packed his kit and was ready to deploy to the South Atlantic for four months. The day before his trip while waiting for his wife to finish a hairdressing appointment, he decided to kill time by going for an eye test. Tony had recently noticed a slight deterioration in his eyesight, but he put it down to getting older and didn’t have any major concerns.

The test showed there was a suspicious

shadow at the back of Tony’s right eye. His optician was concerned and sent the test results back to Tony’s GP, who referred him to a military Ophthalmologist the next day, which resulted in an urgent referral to Professor Ian Rennie at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. Professor Rennie and his team did some tests and unfortunately discovered that the lesion in Tony’s eye was highly suspicious and indicated a possible malignancy. Because of the lack of any symptoms and the potential outcomes of interventions, it was decided to keep Tony under close review, every four months, until such time as the tumour displayed activity in regards to size and shape. At his review in August 2012, it was confirmed that the tumour was active and malignant and required immediate treatment. It was decided Tony would have surgery in Sheffield and then travel to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre for pioneering proton therapy to his eye.

“My family and I had a lot of concerns initially,” says Tony, who has three children and two grandchildren. “A fear was the possibility of having my right eye removed, or at least losing the vision in my eye. Luckily I received a lot of support from my family – my wife and I tried to help beat any fears by explaining things to our children, but sometimes we simply chose not to talk about it. The main concern for us was of finding a secondary cancer, but when we were told there wasn’t any, it was a relief for the whole family. There was no imminent effect on my life; but there were going to be some changes.”

Thankfully Tony and his family took reassurance from their first visit to the Centre. “When I arrived for my first treatment, all of my previous trepidations were completely dispelled,” Tony says. “From the guy operating the barrier in the car park, to the greeting at reception and the volunteers who took

me to the proton therapy team – everyone was unbelievably helpful and caring and couldn’t do more for me. There was an air of positivity about the entire place, and that completely put my wife and I at ease.”

Tony then made his 130 mile round-trip to the Centre daily for five days, to be treated by Dr Andrzej Kacperek and his proton therapy team. “I didn’t mind the journey as everyone made me feel so welcome, and travelling to Clatterbridge for proton therapy to my eye meant that I didn’t have to have it removed.” he says.

Although his professional life has become more difficult as he cannot fulfil operational tours of duty due to his condition and the frequency of his reviews, Tony is responding well to treatment. “It was reassuring to see how the teams at Clatterbridge and Sheffield interacted with each other regarding my treatment,” he says. “The knowledge they had of each other’s processes and functions made me feel better as a patient, and as a military man I appreciate the importance of cross-team co-operation. The respect they had for each other’s teams meant that I was in the best of hands and receiving the best possible care.”

After completing his treatment in August 2012, Tony is now back working in the Royal Air Force as the Senior Practice Manager of a Primary Healthcare Centre in the West Midlands, looking after 2,500 military patients. “It was absolutely crucial for as quick a return to normality as possible as a form of mental rehabilitation, and I was keen to pick up my career and move forward,” he says. “I’m by no means out of the woods yet, and I am under continued review until such time as it is confirmed the tumour has been rendered inactive. The vision in my right eye continues to deteriorate but I am prepared for this eventuality and will not let it hinder me professionally or personally.”

In July Tony will fulfil his dream of giving his daughter Victoria away at her wedding in Nottingham. “This is the highlight for every father who has a daughter and I know that because of the help, treatment and care that I’ve received from the team at Clatterbridge, I will be able to look into my daughter’s eyes and smile for her on the most important day of her life. For that, I will be eternally thankful.”

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre was one of the earliest users of ocular proton therapy, and developed the first ever hospital-based proton treatment centre, which has been delivering proton treatment for eye cancers for over 23 years.

A proton beam, due to its well-defined shape and penetration depth, allows tumours of any size, shape or position within the eye, to be treated precisely with very little effect on the surrounding area so the sensitive parts of the eye are avoided while the tumour is irradiated.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre remains the only proton therapy facility in the UK, and has led the way in many aspects of this demanding technology.

Tony with his wife Philippa and grandchildren

Tony with his grandaughter

Royal Air Force veteran Tony Darnell

“THERE WAS AN AIR OF POSITIVITY ABOUT THE ENTIRE PLACE, AND THAT COMPLETELY PUT MY WIFE AND I AT EASE.”

4 5C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine

A PATIENT’S JOURNEY

www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk

A PATIENT’S JOURNEY

The vision for a new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre on the site of the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Biomedical Campus continues to move forward.

The proposals set down in our Strategic Outline Case have received the endorsement of our commissioners (NHS Merseyside and NHS Warrington, Wirral and Cheshire) as well as the full support of the Board.

A series of roadshows have given members of the public the chance to let us know what they think about our plans. All that feedback is being used as we develop our Outline Business Case which will be a more detailed proposal for the centre that will be submitted for approval late next year.

We also welcomed Project Director, Fiona Jones to the Trust in November. Fiona said: “This project will be the single biggest step towards developing world class cancer services for the region, benefiting everyone living in Wirral, West Cheshire and North of the Mersey, so I am thrilled to be joining The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre at such an exciting time.”

Developing world class cancer services for Merseyside and Cheshire

The Clatterbridge Clinic nears completion The Clatterbridge Clinic, a specialist cancer clinic for private patients offering chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, will soon be ready to treat its first patients.

Refurbishment work has taken place over the last few months to create the state of the art facility which includes a six chair chemotherapy unit and a trueBEAM radiotherapy machine offering patients the most advanced cancer treatment.

Investing in the latest generation of technology will ensure that patients at The Clatterbridge Clinic receive the same high quality treatment as the Centre’s NHS patients.

The Clinic will be managed by The Mater Private in partnership with the Centre and will benefit from clinical expertise provided by consultants from The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Dr Shaun Tolan, Consultant in Clinical Oncology said: “This partnership will provide world-class standard cancer services to private patients. Importantly it will also enable the Trust to enhance our NHS services as profits from The Clatterbridge Clinic will go into caring for our NHS patients so the unit will ultimately benefit both private and NHS patients.”

It is expected that the unit will be up and running in Spring 2013.

CLATTERBRIDGE GOES INTERNATIONAL

Members of the Clinical Education team visited the International Conference on Cancer Nursing in Prague in the Autumn to hold a presentation on innovation within their department.

The presentation featured in the ‘Enhancing patient safety through quality nursing practice’ category at the conference, which was attended by health service staff from across the world.

Sarah Kelly and Mandy Boyles from Mersey ward represented the team at the event to present on the Trust’s comprehensive ‘induction day’ for nursing students on placement. The induction day

was devised by Practice Education Facilitator Beccy Hewins, with Sarah, Mandy and key nursing staff.

The aim of the induction programme is to educate, inform and prepare the students for their placements, providing them with information on fundamental nursing requirements and an overview of the care they will be involved in. The programme benefits students by enhancing their confidence, skills and knowledge in cancer care.

Sarah Kelly said: “Our proposal was well received in Prague and we appeared to be the only health representatives focusing on training and induction. There are

a number of us who contribute to the induction days so it is a real team effort and has been very warmly received by students.”

An evaluation of the programme is carried out each day and there are plans for it to be implemented across the whole student population within the Trust.

“OUR PROPOSAL WAS WELL RECEIVED IN PRAGUE AND WE APPEARED TO BE THE ONLY HEALTH REPRESENTATIVES FOCUSING ON TRAINING AND INDUCTION.”

“THIS PROJECT WILL BE THE SINGLE BIGGEST STEP TOWARDS DEVELOPING WORLD CLASS CANCER SERVICES FOR THE REGION.”

I am also able to vote for new Governors of the Trust which allows me to have a say in the direction it takes.

I am also proud to be an active fundraiser for the Trust – most recently raising over £400 with a Clarins ladies pamper evening at Thornton Hough Village Hall.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is very close to my heart and I take great pride in being a part of it.”

If you, or someone you know would be interested in becoming a member of CCC please contact:

Andrea Leather on 0151 482 7799 or visit http://www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk/ supportyourcentre/membership/member.html

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre became a Foundation Trust in August 2006. Foundation Trust status means that we give greater say in how we are run to local people, staff and all those who use our services.

By signing up as a member, local communities, patients and staff can have a direct influence on how our organisation works.

Our members help us develop our plans, act as a sounding board for things we want to do and support us to improve the services we offer.

Membership makes a difference

“I became a member of the Trust in 2006 after receiving treatment a year earlier for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I wanted to give something back to say thank you for the care I had received.

I was interested in the Patient Council and became involved with patient surveys so that we could work on ways to improve services. As part of this role I proof read all written information that goes out to patients to make sure that it is informative and easy to understand.

Being a member means that I stay up-to-date with news of the Trust via the C3 magazine. I am also invited to the Annual Members’ Meeting to share experiences and help to shape the service.

It has been interesting as a member to attend meetings on the expansion into Liverpool, where I was privileged to listen to the Chair talk on the subject and have the opportunity to ask questions.

At The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre we are always looking to welcome new members to help us to provide a service that is responsive to the needs of our patients.

Membership is completely free and members can choose to be involved as little or as much as they like – from receiving regular newsletters, to taking part in discussion groups and surveys, or even standing for election and becoming a Governor - you have the choice about your level of involvement.

Membership profile: Doreen Mosedale


NEWS NEWS


As the memories of Christmas start to fade it’s time to start looking at those dreaded resolutions you made in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Research shows that 38% of all New Year’s resolutions concern getting fit or losing weight, and 1 in 4 people want to do more to help charities. If these resolutions sound familiar then The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity can help you achieve both before March!

Taking part in Liverpool’s Half Marathon on Sunday 17th March is a great opportunity for you to get fit and help us to continue funding vital cancer research, treatment and care for the Centre’s patients. This fantastic 13.1 mile run starts and finishes at Liverpool’s waterfront and takes in all the city’s most famous sights so it’s a great way to see the city too! Registration costs just £32 and if you sign up with us you’ll receive a free Clatterbridge t-shirt, training tips and the support of our dedicated events team. Be quick though as registration closes on Friday 15th February.

So if you’re looking to get fit in 2013 or just want to support your local cancer charity this year then don’t join the 90% of people who fail in their New Year’s resolutions and sign up for the Liverpool Half Marathon today. Call The Clatterbridge Charity team on 0151 482 7948 or visit www.runliverpoolhalfmarathon.co.uk

New Year, New You!

LIVERPOOL’S HALF

MARATHONSUNDAY 17th MARCH

SIGN UP BEFORE FRIDAY 15th FEBRUARY

1 in 4people want

to do more to help charities 38%

of all New Year’s resolutions concern

getting fit or losing weight

The new Mersey ward opened its doors in December, marking the final phase of our inpatient ward investment programme, with finishes and colourways to match Conway and Sulby wards.

First Mersey ward patient Sarah Bell with nurses Trudy-Jane Guinan and Kirsty Lorimer

NEW MERSEY WARD

A Triage service for Radiotherapy patients is coming soon, and will complement the Chemotherapy Triage service we currently offer. One call through to the Triage service will connect patients who are within six weeks of their treatment to the right member of staff to help them. Staff will undertake a structured assessment to ensure patients are provided with expert advice and, if appropriate, referral to their GP, acute oncology team, a 24-hour follow-up, or admission to the Centre for further care.

The Assessment Unit is a ten-bedded

bespoke unit for emergency admissions that will be open 24 hours a day; seven days a week, and run by senior staff nurses and Advanced Nurse Practitioners. The short-stay unit will be a Monday to Friday ward for planned patients who need day or overnight care. For the comfort and convenience of patients, the new ward provides patients with their own TVs, en-suite showers, and side rooms.

Ward manager Emma Doolan said: “We

are very pleased to be caring for our patients on such a modern and comfortable ward. It has been an exciting time for the Mersey team, with staff and patients impressed with the results of our refurbishment. It’s great that we can provide the most up-to-date facilities for patients and staff.”

The re-modelled ward enables a clear and structured approach for the assessment and admission of planned and emergency patients into the Centre. The new ward consists of three areas; a combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy Triage service, an Assessment Unit, and a Short Stay Unit.

9C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine

NEWS

8

CHARITY NEWS


FEATURE

Staff from the Trust took part in the second annual NHS North West Games in September, coming fourth in the results table out of 24 Trusts!

Clatterbridge was represented in badminton, table tennis and rounders during a busy day of games at Kirkby Sports College. Olympians Beth Tweddle and David Price were even on-hand to present prizes, pose for pictures with teams, and give inspirational speeches about the role sport has played in their lives.

Doctors, nurses, porters, admin and ambulance staff took part in the event from 24 trusts in Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire. The Games are co-ordinated by HR Director Amanda Oates from The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust and led by a steering group of staff from the participating Trusts. Competitions include football, netball, badminton, rounders, table tennis and athletics.

The event was part of the region’s response to the NHS 2012 Challenge, which calls on health organisations to get as many staff as possible involved in physical activity.

NHS North West Games

Next September four nurses are attempting the ultimate challenge by trekking the Great Wall of China to raise £12,000 for The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.

Laura Elder, Sian Davies and Helen Blackmore from Clatterbridge’s Delamere Ward, and Sarah Stewart from Arrowe Park Hospital will be taking on the eight day trek along the Wall’s stony path as it twists and winds its way along the mountains and passes crumbling watchtowers.

The four friends were inspired to take part in the once in a lifetime trek for The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity after seeing firsthand the difference the money raised makes to Clatterbridge patients. Sian explains: “We’re really lucky at Clatterbridge that the charity has been able to fund projects that make a real difference to our patients such as

state-of-the-art chemotherapy pumps and our chemotherapy cars. We wanted to do something really challenging to say thank you and raise even more money for Clatterbridge patients across the region; trekking the Great Wall of China will definitely be a challenge!”

The intrepid group has been busy selling cakes, organising supermarket collections and taking part in car boot sales, and has already raised over £3,000. They’ve got plenty of other fundraising events in the pipeline to reach their £12,000 target. You can support the ‘four great nurses’ on their Great Wall of China trek at www.justgiving.com/4greatnurses.

FOUR GREAT NURSES, ONE GREAT WALL

Dr Syed Hussain, Clinical Senior Lecturer and Consultant at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is pioneering a trial in the treatment of bladder cancer, which involves treating patients with both chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The standard treatment for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer is surgical removal of the bladder, or organ preservation treatment with radiotherapy. Surgical removal of the bladder means adjusting to life with a stoma fitted, which can be a difficult prospect for patients. Therefore there was a recognised need to improve organ preservation treatment as an alternative to surgery for bladder cancer.

Ten years ago a Phase 1 study began to investigate the effect of adding the chemotherapy drugs Mitomycin C and 5-Fluorouracil into radiotherapy treatment, a process known as chemoradiation.

The trial subsequently proceeded to Phase 2 and with the support of a grant from Cancer Research UK successfully moved

Bladder Cancer trial revolutionises patient treatment

to Phase 3 and became the largest bladder cancer study of organ preservation treatment in the country. The results of this Phase 3 trial, known as BC 2001, were recently featured in prestigious medical publication ‘The New England Journal of Medicine’.

The positive results gained from the BC 2001 study have lead to a further clinical trial to test the addition of the chemotherapy drug Cetuximab into the chemoradiation treatment.

Taking part in this Phase 1 clinical trial is Tommy Brennan from Crosby, who was diagnosed with bladder cancer in early 2012. Mr Brennan’s treatment involves 32 episodes of radiotherapy for six weeks, alongside regular chemotherapy treatment. The trial is named the TUXEDO study, and has been launched at the Trust in conjunction with University Hospital, Birmingham.

Mr Brennan, a professional stonemason, has a check-up with Dr Hussain once a week as part of his trial. He says: “I would say that if you are offered treatment which

can improve your chances, then go for it. It’s worth giving it a try. Other than tiredness, mainly from travelling and not being at work, everything has gone well on the trial so far, and Dr Hussain is incredibly supportive.”

Dr Hussain said: “It has been very satisfying to see our first clinical trial all the way through from a Phase 1 study to a successful, completed national Phase 3 study that has changed the standard of care. Trials are the only way we can improve on treatment, were it not for patients such as Mr Brennan, it would be impossible to move forward with research.”

BEATING THE BUGSInfection Control Week took

place in September and a number of activities took place to raise awareness of new innovations in the Trust and promote the prevention and control of infection.

Staff were given the opportunity to see lots of demonstrations – including a new air quality control sampling machine; a new detection device used to monitor cleanliness, and new silver-coated catheters which reduce the risk of bladder infections.

As part of the activities a competition was launched to create a hand hygiene poster to be displayed in the Centre. The winning entry was submitted by 11-year-old Dominique Young, whose poster encourages us to ‘treat bugs mean and keep our hands clean’. Dominique

received a gift token sponsored by our hand hygiene supplier and a certificate.

Infection Control Lead Nurse Debbie Kretzer said: “‘Our whole Trust takes infection prevention and control very seriously. High standards are important to make people feel safe and to keep them safe. Some of our achievements this year include rating ‘excellent’ in all areas of the national Patient Environment Action Team assessments, and we scored amongst the highest in the country for hand hygiene and standards of cleanliness in the latest national patient surveys. We’re still on target to achieve another significant reduction in the number of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infections and it’s been over 12 months since we had an MRSA infection to report.”

Look out for Dominique’s poster which will be displayed on the new Infection Control TV in the main corridor and around the Centre.

We were the top scoring Trust for cleanliness in the 2012 Care Quality Commission outpatient survey.

The Trust scored ‘Excellent’ in all categories in the national Patient Environment Action Team Assessment (PEAT) in 2012.

11C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine10

NEWS


Outstanding Cancer Care55 years of

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has been leading the way in cancer treatment in Merseyside and Cheshire for over half a century. From developing pioneering new treatments through to the friendly greeting given by our volunteers, we work to ensure all of our patients and their families and carers receive the best possible care.

2013 marks 55 years since we started delivering cancer treatment in the region so we wanted to take a look at the Trust from past to present…

Our HistoryThe Centre’s roots date back over a century to the Liverpool Hospital for Cancer and Diseases of the Skin, set up by James Seaton Smythe, a prominent surgeon.

He founded the institution in 1862 and, seven years later, bequeathed the hospital the sum of £10,000. This was the first of many legacies that continue to this day to support our work of caring for cancer patients, researching into the cause of the disease, and the seeking of a cure.

In 1882 the hospital moved to a new site in Liverpool and was renamed The Radium Institute. The first Roentgen ray apparatus was purchased in 1901 and gradually the Centre grew to be one of two major radiotherapy centres in North West England.

An ambitious scheme was proposed in the 1920s to demolish the old hospital and erect a new, eight-floor building devoted to cancer treatment and research. The foundation stone of the new building was laid in November 1931 but, due to World War II and the subsequent foundation of the National Health Service in 1948, it was never completed.

In the early 1950s a decision was taken to relocate services away from Liverpool city centre and, after much discussion, Clatterbridge was selected to be the new centre for the development of radiotherapy services.

In Liverpool the Radium Institute, renamed the Liverpool Clinic, became the Regional Centre for Nuclear Medicine, whilst over the water in rural Wirral, the new Regional Radiotherapy Centre was opened on 28 March 1958 which is where the headquarters site of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, as we are known today, has remained.

Where we are todayThe Trust has become one of the largest networked cancer centres in the UK. From nine operating sites we now treat and support more than 27,000 patients each year, offering almost 143,000 pioneering chemotherapy, proton therapy and radiotherapy treatments per year.

Since 1999/2000 our outpatient attendances have increased from 20,000 to 206,000 and staff numbers have more than doubled from 380 to 787.

In the last 10 years The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has:

• Constructedastateoftheartsatelliteradiotherapy centre in Aintree, greatly improving access to high quality cancer treatment for an additional 2,000 patients every year.

• Investedover£64mtoupgradetheestateandimprovefacilities ensuring the Trust meets the expectations and needs of patients and visitors.

• BecomethefirstTrustinthecountrytoachieveISO9001:2008 for the whole of its operations and one of the first in the country to achieve NHSLA Level 3, measures which support the driving up of quality and safety standards across all areas of our care and treatment.

• Continuedtoimplementbestpracticeininfectionprevention and control, achieving year on year reductions in Clostridium difficile infections and reporting only one MRSA bacteraemia in over eight and a half years.

• AchievedaMonitorratingof‘4’or‘5’(againstahighestrating of ‘5’) for the last six years, demonstrating a strong financial control, good long-term planning and close working relationships with commissioners.

• RegularlyfeaturedasoneofthetopperformingTrusts in national patient and staff surveys.

• ConsistentlyachievedthehighestgradinginNHSperformance ratings.

Looking to the futureThe Trust is currently poised at one of the most significant points in its history.

Our proposals to build a new world class cancer centre in Liverpool will bring inpatient facilities for radiotherapy and chemotherapy onto a single large acute teaching hospital campus delivering integrated cancer care along with life saving research, closer to even more patients across Merseyside and Cheshire.

Reshaping cancer services in this way will ensure the people of Cheshire, Merseyside and beyond benefit from world-class care of the highest possible quality for many more decades to come.

The Centre gets a new name

Current exterior of the CentrePrince Charles visits the Diagnostic Imaging department in the 90s

The first four nurses to work at the Centre

The Centre in the 1970s

One of the first treatment machines

Early ward at the Centre

The Colbalt unit


FEATURE FEATURE


FEATURE

Yvonne Tsao tells us why she became an elected Governor for Liverpool

“I WANT TO DO AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN TO GIVE BACK TO THE NHS AS I THINK THIS COUNTRY HAS THE FINEST HEALTHCARE SERVICE IN THE WORLD.”

My love for the NHS and

my local cancer centre.

My name is Yvonne Tsao and I am a publicly elected Governor for Liverpool.

I became a Governor three years ago as I am incredibly passionate about the NHS. I wanted to make a positive contribution by helping to improve quality and bring the views of Trust members and patients to the attention of the Board of Directors.

I have worked as a Clinical Physiologist in

the NHS for over 30 years. This has given me great insight and expertise into the NHS and how it is run. As a result I understand many of the things that are important to patients; from acceptable waiting times to feeling that they can ask questions about their treatment.

As part of my role I serve on the Patient

Experience Committee and the Membership, Communications and Fundraising Committees. On the Patient Experience Committee we read updates from patient questionnaires so that we can address and action any feedback if necessary. It is important that we promote

care and compassion in the workplace so that patients feel their views are listened to.

I attend regular meetings and help with

fundraising events, such as the Mersey Walk of Hope, where I promoted Trust membership. Promoting membership is particularly important to me, and I am currently organising roadshows to encourage people to join the Trust.

The experience I have gained over the last three years has resulted in genuine engagement with the Trust Board. It is really important that Governors work together with the Board to ensure that decisions made are transparent and that they lead to an improvement in the patient experience.

I feel that I am making a big difference to the patient experience in my role as it is so varied. One week I might be taking part in a ward initiative to monitor how patients are greeted, ward cleanliness, or privacy, and the next I will be looking into how convenient it is for patients to park at the Centre. Whether large or small, it all helps to make a huge difference for our patients.

I want to do as much as I possibly can to

give back to the NHS as I think this country has the finest healthcare service in the world. I am proud to represent the Liverpool constituency as a Governor at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, and I look forward to my next three years in post.

If you are interested in becoming a Governor, please contact Andrea Leather on 0151 482 7799.

trueBEAM will be used to treat thousands of patients with a wide range of different cancers. Since the radiotherapy machine was installed in early December, it has already been used to treat a number of patients.

The machine accurately pinpoints and treats specific areas whilst minimising harm to surrounding tissues. Other advantages include high quality images, a lower imaging dose and quieter operation. Because the trueBEAM system is more efficient it allows treatments to be given in a shorter time.

Radiotherapy and Imaging Services Manager, Julie Massey said: “The trueBEAM is a great addition to our radiotherapy service. It will allow us to develop more advanced treatments in the coming months, making a real difference to future patient experience and treatment success.”

The Trust recently installed an advanced new radiotherapy machine called trueBEAM, which is the most technologically advanced of its kind available. trueBEAM can deliver radiotherapy with pinpoint accuracy and precision and cut down treatment times for large fraction treatments.

Investing in the Technology of tomorrow


FOUNDATION TRUST NEWS

www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk14

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is committed to staying at the forefront of advances in health service delivery to offer exceptional treatment options to our patients. Our innovative chemotherapy service has developed significantly over the last 20 years to really meet the needs of our patients, giving them access to high quality treatment closer to home.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre carries out more than 39,000 chemotherapy treatments per year providing a comfortable, caring and relaxed environment for patients who need to undergo drug therapy for the treatment of cancer. Care closer to home

The development of our community chemotherapy service has enabled us to provide the best possible specialist care in the most convenient place for patients.

The concept began in 1991 when the Trust piloted a home treatment scheme. Soon after that The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre began to deliver chemotherapy treatment in district general hospitals across the region, with nurses travelling to clinics in a Volkswagen campervan! (see picture in next column).

The service has grown significantly since then, and in addition to our outpatient day case unit Delamere Ward, we now have eight well established clinics in hospitals across the Merseyside and Cheshire network – as well as a fleet of six dedicated vehicles supporting us to deliver more than 700 treatments per week to patients either in their home or closer to home.(see picture in next column).

CHEMOTHERAPY - TAKING CLATTERBRIDGE CLOSER TO OUR PATIENTS

Our exceptional staffWe have a team of highly skilled chemotherapy nurses and support

workers, and the Trust invests a lot of time training and developing the team so that the majority of our chemotherapy service is nurse led. This approach enhances patient care, allowing our experienced nurses to work in partnership with medical staff to decide the most appropriate treatment regimes for each patient. Lead chemotherapy nurse Bernie Wilson has worked at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre for 28 years, after starting her career as a staff nurse:

“Every day is different and depends entirely on the patients we have to treat on that day. Some days are spent administering treatment on Delamere ward and others are spent out on the road in one of our Chemotherapy cars, treating patients in the most convenient place to them, whether this is their nearest hospital or even in their own home.

“There are many exciting advancements happening in chemotherapy, particularly with the ‘Clatterbridge in the Community’ programme. We’re always working to deliver more life-saving treatments to patients so I expect that there’ll be many more pioneering treatments developed at the Centre. I’ve seen many drugs go from clinical trials to become a standard treatment, and I hope these developments continue.”

“THERE ARE MANY EXCITING ADVANCEMENTS HAPPENING IN CHEMOTHERAPY, PARTICULARLY WITH THE ‘CLATTERBRIDGE IN THE COMMUNITY’ PROGRAMME.”

Delamere Ward Manager Carol Gregson with patient June Smith in the unit

Carol Gregson chats to Holly and Laurie about the new service

The mobile unit will offer chemotherapy, blood transfusions and cancer support in the heart of local communities

Lead chemotherapy nurse Bernie Wilson

The ‘Clatterbridge in the Community’ project is a service which offers patients specialist treatment away from a hospital setting, bringing pioneering services closer to local residents.

The Trust launched a mobile chemotherapy

unit in December as part of the project, with a little help from Holly Weston and Laurie Duncan who play Ash and Callum in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.

The mobile unit is part of a six month pilot

and will be based at Tesco on the Sealand Industrial Estate in Chester, where it will treat approximately 25 people a day - meaning there will be a significant increase in patients accessing treatment closer to their homes.

The unit holds six chemotherapy treatment

chairs, as well as a reception and pharmacy area where nurses can prepare chemotherapy treatments for patients. Patients will be referred to the service through their current consultant, depending on the type of treatment they need.

Project lead Joanne Upton said: “It was

fantastic to see the finished unit at the launch after many months of working on the project. The state-of-the-art unit has all of the high quality facilities our patients are used to seeing in our hospital-based clinics, but will be located closer to where many of them live, meaning they have to travel less for their treatment. It’s great to see how the unit is allowing us to treat more patients and offer more people cancer support.”

“THE STATE-OF-THE-ART UNIT HAS ALL OF THE HIGH QUALITY FACILITIES OUR PATIENTS ARE USED TO SEEING IN OUR HOSPITAL-BASED CLINICS, BUT WILL BE LOCATED CLOSER TO WHERE MANY OF THEM LIVE, MEANING THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL LESS FOR THEIR TREATMENT.”

CLATTERBRIDGE IN THE COMMUNITY LAUNCHES A NEW MOBILE CHEMOTHERAPY UNIT


FEATURE FEATURE


“IT IS GREAT TO BE A PART OF SUCH A RESPECTED ORGANISATION AS THE CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER CENTRE AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SETTLING INTO MY NEW ROLE, WHICH I SEE AS AN INCREDIBLY EXCITING STAGE IN MY CAREER.”

Meet our new Medical Director,Dr Peter Kirkbride

He joined Clatterbridge:In October 2012 as the Trust’s first

dedicated Medical Director. Following his training and eight years as a Staff Radiation Oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Dr Kirkbride returned to the UK to become a Consultant in Clinical Oncology at Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield.

During his time in Sheffield, Peter was Clinical Director for Radiation Services, Cancer Lead Clinician for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust and Lead Clinician for the North Trent Cancer Network.

He enjoys:Reading, films, eating out and sports;

in particular, national hunt horseracing and attending Cheltenham races. Part of his leaving present from his previous role in Sheffield were tickets for 2013 Grand National.

He also:Is the National Clinical Lead for

Radiotherapy Improvement for the National Cancer Action Team (NCAT) and is currently a member of the National Radiotherapy Implementation Group (NRIG). Peter is the Chair of the National Radiotherapy Awareness Initiative (NRAI) and the Clinical Lead of the NICE Prostate Cancer Guideline Development Group. These posts require Peter to spend a few days a month in Cardiff and London.

He said:“I’m still very much in the early stages

of this role but am thoroughly enjoying attending meetings, getting to know the workings of the Centre, and of course, my new colleagues. I am currently enduring a long commute as my family home is still in Sheffield. My daughter is currently studying for her A’ Levels and I didn’t want to uproot my family until she has completed them, so until the summer I will certainly be seeing a lot of Snake Pass!

It is great to be a part of such a respected organisation as The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and I am looking forward to settling into my new role, which I see as an incredibly exciting stage in my career.”

You don’t need to make a cash donation to support Clatterbridge cancer patients; a donation of your time could be just as worthwhile.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is always looking for people who can spare a few hours to help at a bag pack or collection in local supermarkets throughout the region. Our ‘Supermarket Superheroes’ help raise thousands of pounds for us every year and the collections are a great way to meet new people!

If you could donate some of your time to help at a collection near you, please get in touch with the Charity team on 0151 482 7949.

Over the years we’ve been fortunate enough to work with some of the region’s best known companies such as Merseytravel, Bank of America, and Marks and Spencer, as well as many other local businesses, including Cuthberts Bakehouse, Hawker Beechcraft and Novartis. These companies not only raise thousands of pounds but also dedicate hundreds of hours of their time and donate gifts for our patients.

Airbus raised £900 and made a real difference to the lives of cancer patients by holding a ‘wear a silly shirt to work’ day

LOCAL BUSINESSES SUPPORT CLATTERBRIDGE

Staff from RSA Liverpool visited in September to help tidy the Centre’s gardens

DID YOU KNOW THAT EVERY YEAR BUSINESSES FROM ACROSS THE REGION RAISE OVER £130,000 FOR THE CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER CHARITY?

We’re always looking for new businesses to work with so if you know of a company that may be able to help The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity to continue funding vital cancer research, care and support to Clatterbridge patients across the region, please get in touch on 0151 482 7948.

In Easter 2012, Great Bear Distribution donated around 100 Easter eggs to our patients following a campaign in their staff magazine

SPOTLIGHT ON GIVING


FEATURE FEATURE


Back in 1991, Sue Nixon came to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in a temporary capacity…21 years later Sue has just celebrated 20 years long-service with a special award lunch hosted by the Chairman Alan White and Chief Executive Andrew Cannell. Sue, and seven other colleagues who have given over 20 years service, were each presented with a certificate of recognition, a silver long-service badge and £200 in vouchers.

Sue loves her job, working as a Personal Assistant in the Physics and Radiotherapy Department. She laughs: “My job is so varied – but as much as I enjoy it, I am looking forward to retiring in a few years time!”

Sue’s diverse role involves looking after the day-to-day needs of the Radiotherapy and Physics teams, but she really has noticed some changes during the past two decades: “The staff levels have increased dramatically. When I first started there weren’t such departments as Fundraising or Communications, there were only three people in Finance, and three in HR, so it really goes to show how the Centre has expanded and moved forward.”

Would Sue ever want to do anything else for a job? “No, I have never thought about another job,” she says. “I am happy in my work here at the Centre.”

Following in the family tradition, along with this great milestone, Sue’s daughter Kellie also celebrated her long service at the Centre with a certificate and badge.

Kellie feels the same way as Sue when it comes to the great atmosphere at the Centre and has worked for the Trust for 11 years. Kellie also started as a temp, covering sickness, before working as a clerk for six years and then making the move to the Clinical Effectiveness Team around five years ago.

“I knew how much Mum enjoyed her role at the Centre so it was easy to make the decision to apply for the job,” Kellie says.

Sue’s son Scott has also worked at the Centre as a Dosimetrist for 10 years – giving the three relations a whopping 42 years service between them!

A Family Affair

The Trust is committed to providing a healthy working environment for all of its employees. A number of steps have been taken to promote staff health and wellbeing - from a reduction in fresh fruit prices, to reduced on-site gym membership and holistic therapy.

A healthy and happy workforce is

vital to delivering the highest quality care for our patients. We are proud

Health and Wellbeing

For many patients, a diagnosis of rectal cancer has added fears – the prospect of invasive surgery, which often means the need to live with a colostomy for the rest of their lives, can be difficult to come to terms with and a lifelong reminder of their fight against cancer.

Here at Clatterbridge we are proud to be home to a revolutionary technique to treat early stage rectal cancer as an alternative to radical surgery. Funded by The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, Papillon is the world’s first such machine and it was developed right here in Merseyside.

Papillon not only offers an alternative to surgery, it prevents the long-term, life-altering side effects that so many patients fear. Patients like Mark Davies, who was just 31 when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Papillon Appeal“IT’S FANTASTIC THAT CLATTERBRIDGE IS THE INTERNATIONAL LEADER IN PAPILLON. THE WORK THAT GOES ON THERE IS AMAZING.” - Ricky Tomlinson

Ricky Tomlinson with Dr Myint, Therapy Radiographer Kate Perkins and the Papillon machine

Mark says: “Being told I had bowel cancer was a shock, but worse still was the idea of radical surgery that would leave me with permanent and life- altering side-effects. Surgery would treat the cancer but I didn’t want to spend the next 40 years with a permanent colostomy! Fortunately Dr Myint and his team at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre were able to treat me using Papillon, which meant I could live a more normal, colostomy and cancer-free life. Clatterbridge’s Papillon saved my life!”

There is still much more we can do to help these patients so The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is launching an Appeal to create a dedicated Papillon Centre here at Clatterbridge. Supported by actor and comedian Ricky Tomlinson, our Papillon Appeal will raise £150,000 to create a designated unit enabling us to treat and improve the lives of a greater number of patients every year.

Ricky said: “It’s fantastic that Clatterbridge is the international leader in Papillon. The work that goes on there

is amazing. It’s great that

The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is

raising money so many more people are able to have

Papillon treatment in an improved environment. It’s scary for cancer patients and they deserve the very best. Please support the Papillon Appeal and help more cancer patients fight this terrible disease.”

Donate today at www.clatterbridgecc.org.uk or call the Charity team on 0151 482 7948. Alternatively you can complete the donation slip on page 23.

of the work that our staff does to provide dedicated cancer care, and it is important to reflect that wherever we can so that they know how much they are valued.

A new Health and Wellbeing

Committee, made up of staff volunteers, is meeting every month to look at ways the Trust can support the wellbeing of staff. Information on maintaining good

physical and emotional wellbeing is provided on the intranet, and updates are sent via the weekly e-bulletin. If staff would like to make suggestions for the Health and Wellbeing Committee or join the group, please contact the Communications Team.

Further information for staff, including nutritional advice, alternative therapies and more, can be found on the ‘Health and Wellbeing Zone’ on the intranet.

Sue (left) with her son, Scott and daughter, Kellie

Sue Nixon and Kellie Summerfield

Mark Davies


FEATURE

20

NEWS


(Serves 4-6 people)

This combination of Dijon mustard and yoghurt creates a light sauce with a French flair. Serve with rice or linguine and green beans or broccoli.

Ingredients

1 kg chicken breasts, no skin or bone

250 ml plain low fat yoghurt

150 ml low fat mayonnaise

50 ml sliced onions

2 tbsp Dijon mustard

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp dried thyme

Salt and pepper

50 ml grated parmesan cheese

Garnish: chopped fresh parsley

Recipe of the month

Support your cancer centre

Name: Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms / Dr

Address:

Postcode:

Telephone: E-mail:

Thank you – your donation will now make an even greater contribution to our work.

I would like to help The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity by donating:

£100 £50 £30 £20 Other £ Direct Debit*

* If you tick this box, the Charity team will be in touch to set up your Direct Debit.

I would like to know more about the ways I can support the Charity

Tick if you do not want a receipt and help us reduce costs

I enclose a cheque/postal order made payable to “The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre”

Please debit my credit / debit card, number

Start date Expiry date Issue No. (maestro only)

(maestro only)

Security code (last three digits on reverse)

In making this donation I do not intend that my wishes for its uses should impose a Trust.

Signed:

Date:

Send To: Charity office, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Clatterbridge Road, Bebington, Wirral CH63 4JY Charity No 1051727

If you are a UK taxpayer, we can receive an extra 25p for every £1 you donate.

Gift Aid it? I am a UK tax payer and would like ‘The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity’ to reclaim the tax on any of the donation I have made in the last six years and all future donations as Gift Aid donations until I notify you otherwise. To qualify for Gift Aid, I understand that the amount of income and/or capital gains tax I pay must be at least equal to the amount claimed on my donation in the appropriate tax year (6 April one year to 5 April the next)

There are so many ways to get involved, find out more at: www.clatterbridgecc.org.uk / 0151 482 7948 Or call into our charity office at Clatterbridge

Method1. Combine yoghurt, mayonnaise, onions,

mustard, and seasonings. 2. Add chicken and coat with the sauce3. Bake in 180 degree celcius oven for about

30-45 minutes or until chicken is tender. 4. Half way through cooking stir sauce. 5. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and brown

under the grill. 5. Serve garnished with chopped parsley.

If you are trying to gain weight, you can increase the calories of this dish by using full fat yoghurt and full fat mayonnaise. Chicken thighs could be used, which are higher in calories.

Clatterbridge dietician Kathryn Parr shares another one of her delicious recipes

Creamy mustard chickenThe Trust has received a generous donation of six Paxman scalp coolers for the prevention of hair loss from the Walk the Walk charity.

Three coolers are housed on Delamere ward on our main site, and three in our satellite chemotherapy clinics at the Linda McCartney Centre, The Marina Dalglish Centre, and Halton Hospital.

Some chemotherapy treatments can lead to thinning of the hair or hair loss, although

Dingbats

Answers on back page

CARING FOR YOUR HAIR

HOW THE SCALP COOLERS WORK:

Chemotherapy drugs travel to the hair follicles via the bloodstream. When blood vessels in the scalp are cooled, hair follicles become smaller, meaning that less blood – and less chemotherapy – can reach them.

Our scalp coolers are attached to a small, specially designed refrigerator. Patients sit by the machine while the cap is in place, and it must be fitted snugly around the head to work properly. The caps do not need to be changed as the machine is continuously cooling the liquid circulating round your scalp.

Enjoy two of Europe’s most iconic cities whilst supporting The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity by taking part in our London to Paris Bike Ride from 5th to 10th June 2013.

Join us on this exhilarating five-day cycle through beautiful English villages and into stunning rural France. You’ll travel almost 500km past World War I battlefields, historic towns and Gothic churches before finishing under one of Paris’ most famous sights, the Eiffel Tower, just in time for a coffee and a croissant!

This challenge is perfect for any keen cyclist and as it takes place over a long weekend it’s easy to fit around even the busiest of lives.

To register for this cycle ride of a lifetime call the Charity team on 0151 482 7948 or visit www.clatterbridgecc.org.uk. Registration costs just £99 with a £1,450 minimum sponsorship level.

Nous epérons vous y voir! (We hope to see you there!)

Two cities on two wheels

it is usually only temporary. Hair loss can be a difficult side effect of treatment for many people, and preventing it can have a dramatic effect on a patient’s self esteem and general outlook.

Delamere Ward Manager Laura Elder said: “Walk the Walk has been exceptionally generous in their scalp cooling donation. Our previous machines were very old and beyond their best years – the new Paxman technology and the training programme Paxman provide will hopefully enable us to achieve improved results, and we are all looking forward to using them.”

Patient Esther Nuttall had read about scalp cooling and was prepared to give it a go. She said:

Patients should speak to their consultant before using the scalp coolers as they are not suitable for everyone.

Can you work out the common phrases below

oftenoften not

wish

leastx

A GENEROUS DONATION HELPS US TO MINIMISE HAIR LOSS FOR OUR PATIENTS

“I FELT I HAD NOTHING TO LOSE IN GIVING IT A TRY. INITIALLY IT DID FEEL A BIT COLD, BUT I GOT USED TO IT. THE CAP WASN’T HEAVY AND THERE IS AN ADJUSTABLE STRAP SO IT LOOKS A BIT LIKE A SOFT BIKE HELMET. IT’S BRIGHT PINK, SO MY HUSBAND WAS GIGGLING AT ME THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.”

Celebrate the end of the cycle challenge in style under the Eiffel Tower

Cyclists on the streets of London


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22

NEWS


“Together we can beat it”Four years ago I was informed that I had prostate cancer

– a shock even though I had successfully been treated approximately 13 years ago for cancer of the tonsil.I was put under the care of Dr Malik, who from the start was one of the most encouraging, professional and sincere doctors any patient could wish for. Dr Malik gave me real hope of recovery, yet was realistic in his assessment of my cancer. I underwent radiotherapy after all the normal tests along with three years of drugs. I am still under Dr Malik’s care and have every confidence in his treatment – he gives me the feeling that together we can beat it.

It is so easy to complain about almost anything but not enough people take time to thank and highlight the treatment, the nurses, the radiographers and the doctors – in my case Dr Malik – for all they have done for myself and my family.

Please ensure that Dr Malik and all the teams at Clatterbridge and Whiston get the humble ‘Thank you’ that they so deserve.

Ronald Beddard, Newton-le-Willows.

Congratulations to Ronald, who has won a meal for two at Lunya (as advertised in the Autumn/Winter edition).

MailboxYOUR VIEWS

1st

We know that there is amazing work going on in the hospital everyday – if you have a story you would like to share or if you want to tell us about your experience or the experience of a loved one, please get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you…

Alexa Traynor - Associate Director of Strategic Communications and MarketingE: [email protected]: 0151 482 7792

I wanted to write to thank staff for their continued professionalism and dedication, which enabled the Trust to meet each of the required standards in this year’s unannounced Care Quality Commission inspection. The inspection assessed the Trust on a number of criteria; including standards of staffing, quality of management, and caring for people safely. The commitment of our staff has allowed us to demonstrate many areas of good practice once again, with the report stating that patients interviewed on the inspection day were “very positive about all aspects of their care and treatment”. There were a number of quotes from patients about the exemplary care showed to them by our staff, and as an organisation we are very proud to receive such positive feedback. So once again - thank you to all staff for your commitment to the Trust and to our patients.

Helen Porter, Director of Nursing and Quality

STARLetter

We recognise the importance of your experience as a patient and those of your family and friends. If you have any compliments, concerns or complaints please contact: Sue Relph, Patient Experience Manager on: 0151 482 7927 or [email protected]

Next edition’s Star Letter wins a ‘World Cup Hero’ signed football

In 1966, Geoff Hurst was named in the England line-up to compete in the FIFA

World Cup, even though he was less than six months into his international career. England went on to reach the final and beat West Germany 4-2 to win the title at Wembley. Three of England’s goals came from Geoff Hurst and he became the only player in history to score a hat-trick in a world cup final match, a record which he still holds to this day. In 1998, Sir Geoff Hurst was knighted for his contribution to the game and to this day remains a popular figure in English sport. We have a football signed by the man himself to give away to one lucky reader!

WINA SIGNED

FOOTBALL

Email your letter to [email protected] or post to Alexa Traynor, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Bebington, Wirral CH63 4JY by 15th March to be in with a chance of winning this prize.

Please include your name, address and telephone number.

The winner will be announced in the Spring/Summer edition of C3 magazine.

Dingbat answers:Cut above the rest, more often than not, repeat after me, wish upon a star, last but not least

24

LETTERS PAGE


c3 magazine - winter/spring 2013

Documents

clatterbridge cancer

cancer treatment

treatment of bladder

centre pages

nhs foundation trust

brave battle06 clatterbridge

new you09 new mersey

years of service