To mark national Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Day (Wednesday, 26 April), we are shining a light on the role.
There are more than 74,000 people in Kent and Medway living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis and more than 200 CNS working in our NHS trusts supporting people through diagnosis and treatment.
NHS Kent and Medway Chair Cedi Frederick said: “CNS provide a unique service. They are the clinical but also human interface between the service we offer patients and their families.”
CNS help provide people with personalised, person-centred, care. They support patients across all stages of treatment, providing them with information about their type of cancer, treatment options and possible side effects.
NHS Kent and Medway Chief Nurse Dame Eileen Sills said: “As an individual who has cancer, it is the CNS that got me through some dark times.
“They are the ones that I keep connected with, as I go on with my long-term journey with the cancer that I have.”
CNS use their expertise to assess, diagnose and treat patients but their role often extends to other areas such as research.
NHS Kent and Medway Primary Care Cancer Lead Dr Jonathan Bryant said: “From personal experience with cancer, I feel the CNS have done a fantastic job in guiding people on their cancer journey, offering support and help when they need it most. I think they are a fantastic bunch of people and I’m really grateful to have them on board.”
CNS also help to:
- reduce emergency admissions and the length of time spent in hospital
- reduce the number of follow-up appointments and medical consultations
- enable people to be cared for and to die in their place of choice.
NHS Kent and Medway Chief Medical Officer Dr Kate Langford said: “CNS work with the cancer treatment teams, supporting patients throughout their journey.
“For cancer patients that can be quite a complex journey but the cancer nurse specialist is the person they can always turn to to ask those questions about what happens next. What should I expect?”
The videos on this page were provided by NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance and were created as part of the alliance's workforce programme.
The cancer alliance brings together clinicians and managers from health, social care and other services to transform the diagnosis, treatment and care for cancer patients.
These partnerships enable care to be more effectively planned across local cancer pathways.
The Cancer Alliance works with CNSs to improve patient experience and outcomes. Through forums, training, and development opportunities, the alliance supports CNSs to manage and deliver complex personalised care to patients and loved ones at every stage of their cancer journey, in line with national requirements for personalised care and support planning.
This includes personalised communication and information provision, involvement in decisions about treatment and care, and identification of people’s concerns and needs.
CNS were recognised and rewarded at NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance's CNS event.
CNS from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW), East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT), Medway NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Foundation Trust (DGT) came together as part of a day designed to thank them for the work that they do.
Chair of NHS Kent and Medway Cedi Frederick presented awards to CNS who had been nominated by colleagues in their trusts and the cancer alliance.
Congratulations to:
- Lead Colorectal CNS Louise Rafferty (DGT)
- Non-site-specific CNS Carrie Barton (DGT)
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Teenager and Young Adult Liasion CNS Ami Archer (EKHUFT)
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Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist Christine Boarman (EKHUFT)
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Lung CNS Eve McGarry (EKHUFT)
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Colorectal cancer CNS Karen Hills (MFT)
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Gynaecology CNS Karen Flannery (MFT)
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Head and Neck CNS Ruth Casey (MTW)
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Specialist Nurse in Anal Cancers Hayley Geere (MTW)
"I am grateful you are always there if I need you. You always get back to me with all the answers. Thank you."
A patient in Kent and Medway
"I cannot thank my cancer nurses enough for the difference they made to me during my journey through treatment. Knowing I can contact them at any point is invaluable."
A patient in Kent and Medway
CancerData statistics show that more than 74,000 Kent and Medway residents are living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis.
The number of people living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis at a national level (in England) is expected to double by 2030 (based on a MacMillan report).