Health care pros on how to improve Cumbrian cancer services

On April 17 at the Halston Hotel Carlisle, services including the Northern Care Alliance (NCA), and North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) met in a first-of-its-kind event to host presentations and discuss what more can be done to help those affected by cancer.

Event speakers and organisers (Image: Bridgewater Creative)

Cancern, a network of VCFSE organisations in the North East and North Cumbria who offer support for those who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis, organised last week's event.

Network coordinator Lorna Joisce said: "There were people in the room today that can get that message further. We can’t always expect a senior commissioner to be here but we are making small steps to get there. I asked for rawness, vulnerability and passion and I think we’ve had that today. I’m really proud of that achievement, it’s something to be celebrated."

Throughout the day, various coordinators, carers and directors offered up their thoughts on the current state of cancer services in Cumbria.

Anita Barker (Image: Bridgewater Creative)

Anita Barker, deputy delivery director at North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: "Cancer is a high priority right across the NHS – both encouraging people to come forward so that doctors can make an early diagnosis, and ensuring patients get the best possible care when they need it.

"We have ambitious goals to provide more personalised care, further develop our specialist workforce, increase screening and speed up diagnosis.

"We know we can't do this alone – so it's a huge help for us to hear the experiences of patients, and link with the voluntary and community groups who support people affected by cancer in so many ways. Patient groups and voluntary organisations can play a vital role in helping us shape the services of the future."

Northern Cancer Voices is a network of patients, carers and volunteers which covers the north east and north Cumbria.

CEO Tori Bradison, said: "We work with anyone impacted, with a view of improving the service. We take feedback from anyone going through the cancer pathway and we take it to the trust, or to the people with money, to see if we can make improvements.

"There's obviously a need for support groups, we will make a case for that and see if, as a charity, we can get some funding to support that. People want a regular place to go to, to talk to people in a similar situation to their own, outside the hospital setting. That doesn't take a lot of money to do.

"We have done it other places, with funding from the community chest, to set us up for a year. I'm really passionate about the fact that service providers are far better when they work together and collaborate."

Sharon Middlemore (Image: Bridgewater Creative)

Sharon Middlemore, NCIC personalised care manager, shared how the NCIC are aiming to improve wellbeing and support services for people living with cancer in Cumbria. 

She said: "A lot is down to resources. If we had more resources and staff, which is obviously down to funding, then we'd be able to embed more personalised care interventions. With the health and wellbeing, the main priority will be to introduce a prehabilitation programme, because that will support the patients, reduce their time in hospital and support the NHS with their ongoing capacity issues."

Everyone at the event was in agreement that more funding is needed if cancer services in Cumbria are going to improve, but the first-of-its-kind event to help people collaborate was certainly a step in the right direction.