Four consultant radiographers appointed by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
Posted 22nd February 2018
(From left to right) Michelle Cain, Dawn Ledsom, Philip Reynolds and Conor Fitzpatrick
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has appointed four consultant radiographers as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to improving patient experience.
Dawn Ledsom, Michelle Cain, Phil Reynolds and Conor Fitzpatrick have all started in their new roles at the hospital in Wirral, Merseyside.
After their training, they will oversee patients from the decision to treat at the Multidisciplinary Team meeting (MDT) to discharge, and will work alongside consultant oncologists to establish the best pathways for people being treated for cancer at the centre.
The four will also have a focus on staff development and training, research and innovation, and pushing forward expertise in clinical practice.
The role of a consultant radiographer is wide and considered the pinnacle of the radiography profession.
The four will undertake duties previously only carried out exclusively by doctors such as talking patients through their treatment plan and the expected side effects as well as consent for treatment. They will also be responsible for outlining the area to be treated, and prescribing the radiotherapy treatment.
Kieran Woods, Business and Development Manager for Radiotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, welcomed the appointments, saying: “We understand we are the first specialist cancer hospital in England to have four consultant radiographers in place.
“We are confident they will use their unique skills to enhance the experience of our patients, at the same time as helping staff development.
“These appointments are a very positive step, and illustrate our commitment to driving forward patient care and we welcome Dawn, Michelle, Philip and Conor to their new roles.”
Dawn Ledsom, has worked at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre throughout her career and was a specialist breast planning radiographer for eight years. She will specialise in breast cancer treatment.
Michelle Cain and Phil Reynolds will both specialise in prostate cancer.
Michelle joined The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in 2012, previously working in the cancer rehabilitation team and also as an on-treatment review radiographer.
Phil Reynolds joins from The Christie in Manchester. Phil spent eight years as a clinical team member before moving into his specialist urology role.
Conor Fitzpatrick, who also joins The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre from The Christie, will specialise in palliative radiotherapy treatment.
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust has nine linear accelerators, six in Wirral, and three at the Trust’s Aintree site. There is also one in the Clatterbridge Private Clinic.
In 2016/17, 93,330 radiotherapy treatments were delivered to patients.
