Supporting our haematology nurses to continue their vital work
The Royal Marsden’s haematology service will be able to enhance patient access to clinical trials and cellular therapy, thanks to support from gifts in Wills to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. We speak to lead nurse Sam Wigfall about what this will mean for the nursing team and patients.
Gifts in Wills have helped to fund additional nurses in the hospital’s dedicated haematology Bud Flanagan ward. The new roles include a practice educator, clinical facilitator and haematology transformation lead nurse. The additional staff will focus on developing the care and treatment for patients going through clinical trials and cellular therapy, through education and training.
In the past five years the way the hospital treats haematology patients has transformed, with more patients being considered for pioneering clinical trials and cellular therapy. Programmes for patients to receive chemotherapy at or closer to home on a Mobile Chemotherapy Unit and in an ambulatory care (outpatient) setting has also changed the way the team works. The Charity’s investment in these additional posts will ensure the Bud Flanagan nursing team can continue to offer patients the latest treatments and ensure they continue to receive the best possible care.
Sam Wigfall, Lead Nurse for Haematology and the Oak Cancer Centre, said: “This is an exciting time for development in the Bud Flanagan ward. The generous Charity funding will mean our nursing team continues to receive the specialist training required for innovative new treatments like cellular therapy.
“The role out of new ways for us to treat patients via the Mobile Chemotherapy Unit, ambulatory care and chemotherapy at home has really altered the way we work, and we anticipate this will continue to evolve in the future.
“In the next few years our outpatient service will be moving into the new Charity funded Oak Cancer Centre and my role, thanks to the Charity funding, will ensure the future needs of our patients will be pivotal in the planning of this state-of-the-art facility.”
