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Winter/Spring 2013
Hollyoaks stars help
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INVESTMENT
IN LIVERPOOL
UPDATE
Read more on pages 16 and 17
NEW MERSEY WARD
OPENS ITS DOORS
The Clatterbridge Clinic
Health & Wellbeing
Bladder Cancer Study
Papillon Appeal
THIS ISSUE
Welcome
Contents
02 Welcome
04 A brave battle
06 Clatterbridge goes international
07 News
08 New year, new you
09 New Mersey ward
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.
3 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 Cannell
Chief Executive
10 Beating the bugs
Bladder cancer clinical trial
11
NHS North West Games
16
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
21
08
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
12
A PATIENT’S JOURNEY
Royal Air Force veteran
Tony Darnell
A PATIENT’S JOURNEY
“THERE WAS AN AIR
OF POSITIVITY
ABOUT THE ENTIRE
PLACE, AND THAT
COMPLETELY PUT MY
WIFE AND I AT EASE.”
A brave battle
In 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
4
www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
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.”
Tony with his wife Philippa and
grandchildren
Tony with his grandaughter
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 welldefined 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.
C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine 5
NEWS
NEWS
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 worldclass 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.
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
6
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
www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
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.
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.
“OUR PROPOSAL WAS
WELL RECEIVED IN
PRAGUE AND WE
APPEARED TO BE
THE ONLY HEALTH
REPRESENTATIVES
FOCUSING ON TRAINING
AND INDUCTION.”
Membership makes a difference
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.
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.
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.
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.
Developing
world class
cancer
services for
Merseyside
and Cheshire
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.”
“THIS PROJECT WILL
BE THE SINGLE BIGGEST
STEP TOWARDS
DEVELOPING WORLD
CLASS CANCER SERVICES
FOR THE REGION.”
Membership profile:
Doreen Mosedale
“I became a member of the Trust in 2006
after receiving treatment a year earlier for nonHodgkins 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.
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.”
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.
If you, or someone you know would
be interested in becoming a member
of CCC please contact:
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.
Andrea Leather on 0151 482 7799 or
visit http://www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk/
supportyourcentre/membership/
member.html
C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine 7
CHARITY NEWS
NEWS
New Year, New You!
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.
First Mersey ward patient Sarah Bell with
nurses Trudy-Jane Guinan and Kirsty Lorimer
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!
LIVERPOOL’S
HALF
MARATHON
SUNDAY 17th MARCH
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.
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
1 in 4
people want
to do more to
help charities
SIGN UP BEFORE FRIDAY 15th FEBRUARY
8
www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
38%
of all New Year’s
resolutions concern
getting fit or
losing weight
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.
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 upto-date facilities for patients and staff.”
NEW MERSEY
WARD
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.
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.
C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine 9
NEWS
FEATURE
Bladder Cancer trial revolutionises
patient treatment
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
Infection 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.
The Trust scored ‘Excellent’ in
all categories in the national
Patient Environment Action Team
Assessment (PEAT) in 2012.
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www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
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.”
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
BEATING THE BUGS
We were the top scoring Trust for
cleanliness in the 2012 Care Quality
Commission outpatient survey.
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.”
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.
NHS North West Games
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.
FOUR GREAT NURSES, ONE GREAT WALL
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.
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 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
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.
C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine 11
FEATURE
FEATURE
55 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.
Outstanding Cancer Care
In the last 10 years The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has:
• Constructed a state of the art satellite radiotherapy
centre in Aintree, greatly improving access to high quality
cancer treatment for an additional 2,000 patients every
year.
• Invested over £64m to upgrade the estate and improve
facilities ensuring the Trust meets the expectations and
needs of patients and visitors.
• Become the first Trust in the country to achieve ISO
9001:2008 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.
• Continued to implement best practice in infection
prevention and control, achieving year on year reductions
in Clostridium difficile infections and reporting only one
MRSA bacteraemia in over eight and a half years.
• Achieved a Monitor rating of ‘4’ or ‘5’ (against a highest
rating of ‘5’) for the last six years, demonstrating a strong
financial control, good long-term planning and close
working relationships with commissioners.
• Regularly featured as one of the top performing Trusts
in national patient and staff surveys.
• Consistently achieved the highest grading in NHS
performance ratings.
One of the first treatment machines
Our History
The Centre in the 1970s
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.
The Colbalt unit
The first four nurses to work at the Centre
The Centre gets a new name
12
www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
Looking to the future
The Trust is currently poised at one of the most significant
points in its history.
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.
The 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.
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…
The 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.
Where we are today
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.
Prince Charles visits the Diagnostic Imaging department in the 90s
Early ward at the Centre
Current exterior of the Centre
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.
C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine 13
FEATURE
Investing in the
Technology of tomorrow
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.
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.”
14
www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
FOUNDATION TRUST NEWS
My love for
the NHS and
my local
cancer centre.
Yvonne Tsao tells us why she became
an elected Governor for Liverpool
My name is Yvonne Tsao and I am a
publicly elected Governor for Liverpool.
care and compassion in the workplace so
that patients feel their views are listened to.
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 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.
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.
“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.”
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
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.
C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine 15
FEATURE
FEATURE
CHEMOTHERAPY - TAKING CLATTERBRIDGE
CLOSER TO OUR PATIENTS
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.
Our exceptional staff
We 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:
CLATTERBRIDGE IN THE COMMUNITY LAUNCHES
A NEW MOBILE CHEMOTHERAPY UNIT
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.
Delamere Ward Manager Carol Gregson with patient June Smith
in the unit
Lead chemotherapy nurse Bernie Wilson
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.
“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.
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).
16
www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
“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.”
The mobile unit will offer chemotherapy, blood transfusions and cancer support in
the heart of local communities
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 HOSPITALBASED CLINICS, BUT WILL
BE LOCATED CLOSER TO
WHERE MANY OF THEM
LIVE, MEANING THEY
HAVE TO TRAVEL LESS
FOR THEIR TREATMENT.”
Carol Gregson chats to Holly and Laurie about the new service
C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine 17
FEATURE
FEATURE
LOCAL BUSINESSES
SUPPORT CLATTERBRIDGE
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.
DID YOU KNOW THAT EVERY YEAR BUSINESSES FROM ACROSS THE REGION
RAISE OVER £130,000 FOR THE CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER CHARITY?
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.
Staff from RSA Liverpool visited in September
to help tidy the Centre’s gardens
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.
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.
In Easter 2012, Great Bear Distribution donated
around 100 Easter eggs to our patients
following a campaign in their staff magazine
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.
Airbus raised £900 and made a real difference
to the lives of cancer patients by holding a
‘wear a silly shirt to work’ day
SPOTLIGHT ON GIVING
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.
18
www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
“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.”
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.”
C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine 19
NEWS
FEATURE
A Family Affair
Papillon Appeal
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.
“IT’S FANTASTIC THAT CLATTERBRIDGE IS THE INTERNATIONAL LEADER
IN PAPILLON. THE WORK THAT GOES ON THERE IS AMAZING.” - Ricky Tomlinson
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.
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.”
Sue (left) with her son, Scott and daughter, Kellie
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.”
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.
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.
Mark says: “Being told I had
bowel cancer was a shock, but
Mark
Davies
worse still was the idea of radical
surgery that would leave
me with permanent and lifealtering 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.
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!
Health and Wellbeing
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
20
www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
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
Sue Nixon and Kellie Summerfield
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.
Ricky Tomlinson with Dr Myint, Therapy Radiographer Kate Perkins and the Papillon machine
C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine 21
NEWS
FEATURE
CARING FOR YOUR HAIR Two cities on
two wheels
The 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
(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
Celebrate the end of the cycle challenge in
style under the Eiffel Tower
1 kg Patients should speak to their consultant
before using the scalp coolers as they are not
suitable for everyone.
chicken breasts, no skin or bone
250 ml plain low fat yoghurt
150 ml low fat mayonnaise
50 ml Patient Esther Nuttall had read about scalp
cooling and was prepared to give it a go.
She said:
“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.”
sliced onions
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried thyme
Method
1. Combine yoghurt, mayonnaise, onions,
mustard, and seasonings.
2. Add chicken and coat with the sauce
3. 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.
grated parmesan cheese
Garnish: chopped fresh parsley
Clatterbridge dietician Kathryn Parr shares another one of her delicious recipes
Cyclists on the streets of London
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!
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.
22
www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
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!)
not
wish
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.
Salt and pepper
50 ml often
often
x
least
Answers on back page
Support your cancer centre
Please debit my credit / debit card, number
I would like to help The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity by donating:
£100 £50 £30 £20 Other £ (maestro only)
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”
Name: Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms / Dr
Address:
HOW THE SCALP COOLERS WORK:
Can you work out the
common phrases below
Creamy mustard chicken
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.”
Dingbats
Recipe of the month
A GENEROUS DONATION HELPS US TO MINIMISE HAIR LOSS FOR OUR PATIENTS
Start date
Expiry date
Issue No. (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:
Postcode:
Telephone:E-mail:
Thank you – your donation will now make an even greater contribution to our work.
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
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)
Send To: Charity office, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Clatterbridge Road, Bebington, Wirral CH63 4JY Charity No 1051727
C3 | The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Magazine 23
LETTERS PAGE
Mailbox
1st
YOUR VIEWS
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 Marketing
E: alexa.traynor@clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
T: 0151 482 7792
STARr
Lette
“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).
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
WIN
NED
A SIGBALL
FOOT
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!
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 sue.relph@clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
24
www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk
Email your letter to alexa.
traynor@clatterbridgecc.nhs.
uk 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
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.