A Cartwheel a Day

“We have the largest workforce of specialist haematology nurses in Europe, working in inpatients, outpatients, Daycare and Ambulatory Care settings. In addition, we have a large contingent of Clinical Nurse Specialists and Advanced Nursing Practitioners working in more autonomous roles across all the haematological cancers and other acute and chronic blood disorders. Their specialist skills and expert knowledge are critical to the safe and efficient running of the service. ​

Equally as critical to the service is the initial and ongoing education and clinical training these teams require to function at the level required. Very simply, without the support of the Haematology Cancer Care Charity, this wouldn’t be possible. Supporting HCC is a small but highly effective army of individuals, personally motivated to help raise funds often through extraordinary and creative means. Lucy, you typify this. Previously a patient of the service, and now a supporter, you cartwheel! This crazy concept has raised significant funds that help support our nurses to then support our patients. This year we aim to help create a UCLH Academy. Here we will take Haematology Education to a new level and develop more self-sufficient in-house education – with the potential to help attract more nurses from all over the country and wider to want to come and join this special band of haematology nurses in London.”

“The course mainly focused on symptom assessment, which is a big part of what we do as nurses specifically. It has really improved the care that I’m able to give by me doing thorough assessments and particularly understanding proper advanced care planning conversations with patients. The course has been helpful in giving me a top to bottom understanding of how that looks and how to achieve it. ​

​Subsequent to the course, as a band 6 senior staff nurse, I’m doing a lot of coordinating discharges. Looking after a palliative patient can be daunting; being able to assess symptoms in complex situations where patients can be non-verbal, understanding what drugs to use and when – so that’s been beneficial. It’s also helped me educate junior members of the team.​

​Thank you for part-funding my course: the teaching we get here really sets us apart from other organisations, and areas.” ​

“The mental health and wellbeing of staff, patients and loved ones has always been an aspect of care that I am extremely passionate about. Attending the Royal College of Nursing – Leadership to Improve Physical and Mental Health Programme – has helped me further understand the importance of patient-centred care, valuing mental and physical health equally, and taught me ways to help ensure that this is carried out effectively across the ward. ​

Reflecting on the course has emphasized the importance of mental health at every level of the organization. By leading with greater empathy and understanding, I’ve hopefully been able to build more trusting relationships with patients and loved ones, making a beneficial impact on their journey. I want to set a positive example and highlight the importance of mental health and wellbeing amongst my team, to ensure that patient care is consistently delivered with kindness and professionalism as well as promoting the wellbeing of the nursing team and aiming to ensure that they feel valued and supported in both their professional and personal lives.​

Thank you so much for funding my course and for helping me develop my career. I look forward to continuing to use the knowledge and skills that I have gained.”

“The theoretical knowledge I’ve gained in the Leadership Module has given me a roadmap for leadership. I understand how to adapt my style  when needed, or when dealing with emergencies. Thanks to the module, I feel comfortable taking a leadership role and to reflect on my practice. ​

I like haematology because I can provide care for patients through their whole journey, through several cycles of treatment lasting a year or longer. We build up a professional rapport with them and their families, which is valuable to both patients and staff!

​I am so grateful for the funding!​”

“The “Living with and Beyond Cancer” was the final model in the degree pathway to a BSc Hons in Cancer Care for our ward manager Jason, who graduated 10 years ago prior to nurses requiring a degree to qualify. ​

The course was the final piece of the jigsaw in the completion of my degree pathway, which is something I’ve wanted since I was a 6th form, 20 years ago! Throughout this pathway I’ve studied the principles and evidence surrounding chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, clinical leadership, palliative care and so much more, which has directly led into teaching my colleagues in day-to-day work on the ward, and projects to improve the service and care we deliver at a ward level. I’m able to better care for those who have completed their cancer treatment but who still occasionally get admitted with other complications and illnesses and helped me better understand and support patients through their readmission.”

“By completing the Non-Medical Prescribing Programme, I am able to provide an improved and efficient service for our patients by reducing delays in access to treatments and disease modifying therapies. This also reduces the necessity for medical input and allows me to be more autonomous in my practice. By providing a more holistic, therapeutic service to my service users, I can identify potential problems/issues within the current service and allow for auditing and further improvement. It also highlights education deficits. It will also enhance my plan to commence nurse-led clinics withing the red cell service.​

I feel that by being able to prescribe I am better equipped to provide medicinal education to my service users and their families to ensure that they are fully informed with their care and understand their medications, directly encouraging self-management. As a non-medical prescriber, I will be able to educate others on how we prescribe and the action of the drug itself.​

Thank you for funding my course and helping me to make a difference and further support the red cell service at UCLH.”

Simon Hailer

​“Having left university with an advanced diploma in nursing in 2010, 2024 was time to top up to a degree. My Dissertation was ‘Nurses’ experience in caring for end-of-life patients.’ This is close to my heart, as we care for EOL patients on our ward. The feedback I received not only helped with my Dissertation and as the EOL nurse link, I’m able to help address some of the issues nurses are facing on the ward.”

“I had my advanced physical assessment funded by HCC and since then I have progressed to a Senior Clinical Practice Facilitator and has improved my role as Nurse in Charge and link between the MDT. By gaining a wider understanding of how to assess a patient and create a management plan, which our advanced nurse practitioners and doctors do, I have become more efficient in provide the best care for the patients as well as allowing me to become an expert to be able to teach the nurses on the ward. HCC funding has shaped my career and improved my knowledge to support the patients and the teams. I have helped other nurses seek funding for other courses within my role of nurse educator and I see the difference in knowledge, confidence, and care that these nurses are able to provide.”

“I have spent 20 years in haematology nursing, 17 at UCLH, working my way up to Chemotherapy CNS 12 years ago. I had two children while working part-time for seven years and returned full-time this year. I am now doing further training, in undertaking the Physical Assessment course to top up my master’s degree. It’s good to see after taking a career break it’s possible to get back your professional life and to give some balance to parental responsibilities! The course is extremely intense as a mature student on top of the full-time role and my family! ​

In my current role seeing patients coming for chemotherapy and transplants, the course will help me assess their suitability and flag up any issues, beyond symptoms and blood results. ​

I feel by studying, I am setting an example to my children and showing that it is possible to do something for myself at this stage in my life! My team is fantastic, they are like a family and supportive of my studies. HCC previously supported my first master’s but at that time there were no ANP roles, so I was ahead of my time! Thank you for funding my course!”

“My background is in haematology nursing, and I was working as a staff nurse on the haematology wards for three years. Unfortunately, due to illness, I had to take some time off the ward and was given the opportunity to work within Personalised Cancer Care as a project facilitator through medical deployment. ​

Personalised cancer care is quite a big focus right now in the NHS, especially within cancer and we are trying to make sure that all patients, where appropriate, are having a holistic conversation about their concerns and receive tailored support that meets their unique needs. Signposting or referring patients to local services ensures that comprehensive and high-quality care is being provided. ​

I am doing the course to further hone my project management skills and play a bigger part in service improvement within cancer, and I am hoping this will further help with my personal and professional development. I am very passionate about cancer nursing, it’s where everything started for me as a nurse – I will always consider myself a haem nurse to the core – but being able to do something at a system level is quite gratifying. ​

My goal is to be a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Haematology, and I think this course will allow me to develop my leadership and communication skills enough to achieve this! Having both clinical and non-clinical experience will allow me to be a more well-rounded and experienced cancer nurse. Thank you for funding my Prince2 Project Management Course!”

“Hi, my name is Gavin, and I’m a nurse educator in the haematology critical care, at UCH Grafton Way Building. Thanks very much to HCC for supporting me in attending an international conference on caring for haematology patients during periods of critical illness. ​

One of the challenges the ICU doctors and nurses face at UCLH is that haematology conditions are complex, and their treatments are rapidly evolving. Providing good education on haematology to our nurses means we can ensure patients get the right care and they will feel safe in the critical care unit, which is vital at times when anxiety levels can be high. ​

Keeping my knowledge up to date at this one-of-a-kind conference will help my role in training nurses at UCLH but it will also provide educational support for staff across the NHS during the online study days we run from our unit, the UK’s largest critical care unit for haematology patients. Thanks once again to HCC and all its supporters!”

“I am thankful for the funding provided by Lucy for my advanced assessment course. It’s great to see the wide range of funding opportunities available at UCLH and it’s truly appreciated to know that both the Trust and HCC place a strong emphasis on supporting our professional development.​

I qualified as a RN in 2019, and haem was my first nursing position! Haematology is a field that I am truly dedicated to. This advanced course has significantly enhanced my clinical assessment skills and increased my confidence in clinical decision making. It has also provided pathways for career advancement including a potential ANP role in the future. I am eager to apply the knowledge I have gained on the ward and mentor junior staff.”

“I wanted to do the Assessment Course ((Advanced Physical Assessment) initially when I was co-ordinating, or in charge on the ward, it was challenging to rely on the ITU nurses and the doctors when someone was critically unwell. The Assessment course teaches us to assess the patient in a more advanced way; for example, knowing what to look for, what to expect, what are the red flags, and how to challenge your hypotheses.

As a CNS I am very hands-on with my patients and should be able to catch signs that require checking and decide which tests to carry out. When patients feel you know what you’re doing, it increases their confidence – and our confidence – and builds the relationship. ​

One of my goals is to be an ANP (Advanced Nurse Practitioner) when the opportunity arises! I am enormously proud to be a nurse at UCLH, and I owe it to the Trust to be the best nurse I can be. I am grateful for the funding, and to have been chosen for the course, as it’s an opportunity for me to progress.”

“As a CPF team (Clinical Practice Facilitator) we are very thankful to Lucy for the support she has given to HCC via her fundraising and contributions. ​

As a team we plan, facilitate, and conduct study days for all inpatient Haematology nurses, ranging from newly qualified up toward managers. Becoming a Haematology nurse involves obtaining expert knowledge, assessment, and practical skills, all of which we provide as a team.​

We work closely with HCC to help facilitate these development and teaching days and are thankful for all their assistance and support.”