[Speaking: Carol Diver, Macmillan Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Lung Oncology]
I’ve been a Macmillan nurse for 15 years at this Trust and, during that time, the number of
cancers has increased year on year. We know that more people are living longer
with cancer now and so we’re needing to support more patients who not only have cancer
but are living with their cancer.
[Speaking: Karen James, Chief Executive Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust] If we look at Tameside and Glossop, we have some of the
poorest outcomes with respect to improving outcomes for cancer patients.
We have many more patients dying prematurely than the national average.
We don’t have any dedicated facilities for cancer patients’.
Patients who require chemotherapy have to attend Christie’s hospital.
[Speaking: Vanessa Hickson, Macmillan Breast Cancer Care Clinical Nurse Specialist]
A lot of our patients have to rely on public transport. You know when you’re going through something
like chemotherapy, a very gruelling and unpleasant treatment, then the last thing you want to
do is be stood at bus stops etc.
[Speaking: Stephanie Sloan] To go to Christie for his chemotherapy my dad had to use patient transport, which was a really stressful experience
for him and really difficult. A 10 o’clock in the morning appointment
he had to be ready by 7am didn’t he? [Speaking: Jacqui Oldham] But they might not
pick him up till 9 so he could miss his 10 o’clock appointment.
[Speaking: Stephanie Sloan] And then after his treatment waiting for patient transport
it could be 7, well it was 7 o’clock at night when he got home one night.
[Speaking: Caron Greene] I’ve relied on friends and family to take me there.
I believe there’s a minibus service, like a voluntary service, but when I rang them
up they said there was a three month waiting list so that was no longer an option.
[Speaking: Stephanie Sloan] By having to wait for the patient transport it made it very
distressing for him and us. [Speaking: Caron Greene] You have got enough
to deal with, with operations, chemotherapy, obviously it’s a massive worry without having
other things to worry about like ‘oh how am I going to get to my appointments’ because
it’s my treatment, it’s my chemo treatment and it’s vital.
[Speaking: Carol Diver, Macmillan Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Lung Oncology] We have
had some patients who’ve really had to think twice about agreeing to treatment because
one of the things they were concerned about was the travelling and having to go to a different
hospital. [Speaking: Karen James, Chief Executive Tameside
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust] From a patients perspective it’s very fragmented because
they are seeing different people all the time and it’s difficult for staff because they
can’t provide the right environment for those patients.
[Speaking: Carol Diver, Macmillan Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Lung Oncology] The working
conditions at the moment do have their difficulties because most of the patients are going off
to other hospitals for their treatment you do loose contact with them.
If more people could have their treatment here that would be much better both for patients
and for nurses. We would be able to see them more frequently.
[Speaking: Stewart Ramsden] When I was given my diagnosis it was actually in a small rather
unpleasant very austere examination room. There were four people in the examination
room, which made it very crowded. I exited straight into a sea of faces in a
waiting room. When you open the door people look around
to see who is coming through the door. We made our way through the room, through
the waiting room and out and we just sat in the car for quite some time because we couldn’t
bring ourselves to drive home. [Speaking: Karen James, Chief Executive Tameside
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust] This new facility for Tameside and Glossop is so important.
This will allow us to integrate services so patients will be able to receive their treatment
within this hospital rather than having to travel elsewhere.
We will be able to provide outpatient clinics. We are also looking at providing a central
information and support department. So it will be a fantastic environment.
[Speaking: Caron Greene] In the new building I believe there is going to be a private consultation
area, which will make the world of difference after being given your diagnosis.
Because for a lot of people you are extremely upset you need somewhere to go just for that
little bit of quiet time or to talk or just to take in what you have been told.
[Speaking: Stewart Ramsden] One thing that has evolved from the development of this Tameside
Macmillan Unit is a user group. We have actually been involved with an art
consultant and the idea of that was to develop not just a colour scheme but the atmosphere,
the ambiance, the feeling, and I think that is very very important.
[Speaking: Carol Diver, Macmillan Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Lung Oncology] I think
the new centre is going to be fantastic. They are familiar with it they know where
to come they know where to park that always makes it easier for them.
I think they will be looked after by staff that they already know, who they have a relationship
with, a rapport with, and who they trust. [Speaking: Stewart Ramsden] I think the single
best advantage of this new centre is that it is almost a one stop shop that people can
come, have their diagnosis, have their treatment, in one place, in a hospital they are familiar
with and the surroundings will be pleasant. [Speaking: Vanessa Hickson, Macmillan Breast
Cancer Care Clinical Nurse Specialist] What a wonderful opportunity because for so many
of those people now, rather than having those really rotten journeys, they are going to
have the ease of an easily accessible journey plus they are going to be treated and have
their support needs met by the team that they are familiar with, plus we are going to expand
our complimentary therapies, have that fantastic specialist information and support area.
I think it’s going to be fantastic. [Speaking: Stephanie Sloan] A single centre
will just make it easy to help your relative, instead of not knowing, you are stressed and
you don’t know how to help them and this will make it easy to help them.
[Speaking: Jacqui Oldham] One place where you could go or everything and you can sit
down then and either help them get better, spend your last few days with them, rather
than worry where you are going next, who do you need to speak to get the best care.
[Speaking: Carol Diver, Macmillan Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Lung Oncology] We can’t
do this on our own. [Speaking: Stewart Ramsden] We need your.
[Speaking: Caron Greene] Support. [Speaking: Vanessa Hickson, Macmillan Breast
Cancer Care Clinical Nurse Specialist] Please help us to raise.
[Speaking: Karen James, Chief Executive Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust] £2 million
pounds. [Speaking: Stephanie Sloan & Jacqui Oldham]
To build the Tameside Macmillan Unit. [Speaking: Jacqui Oldham] You got it wrong!
[Speaking: Stephanie Sloan] Sorry!