'My hopes for Transforming Cancer Care': Patient Carol Brown's views
Posted 17th March 2015
Carol Brown, 64, from Frodsham in Cheshire, gives us her view of Transforming Cancer Care – and her hopes for what it will achieve.
"I first came to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre around seven years ago when I was referred for radiotherapy for a benign brain tumour. Then in early 2014 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and referred to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (CCC) for chemotherapy. I finished that in October and now come back every six months to see Dr Green, my consultant.
"The treatment I've had has been fantastic. The care I've required has also involved other hospitals – I had surgery for my benign brain tumour at The Walton Centre and surgery for my cancer at Liverpool Women's Hospital – and it's been a surprise how everyone has worked together.
"When I think about Transforming Cancer Care for the future, there are a few things I'd like to see. Parking can be a big issue for patients and it's always been convenient at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Wirral so I'm pleased that the new hospital in Liverpool will have its own car park – and that parking will be free for patients and visitors.
"I also like the fact that all the inpatient beds will be in single rooms so people will have their own facilities, but there will also be social space where you can chat to other patients.
"Research and trials of new cancer treatments are so important, not just when you're having treatment yourself but for future generations as well. Making it easier for The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to carry out cancer research by being on a site with the university and others in the NHS is a good idea.
"As for other things that it would be nice to see in the future – I don't know if it's possible but it would be lovely if you could see the same nurse every time* you came in for chemotherapy so you get to know them. Also, it would be nice to have the blood tests you need before chemotherapy closer to home. It wasn't a big issue but occasionally my test results meant I wasn't able to have chemotherapy and I wouldn't have needed to travel if I could have had them closer to home.
"The most important thing, though, is that providing the best cancer care isn't just about buildings and research – it's about remembering that you're treating people. The staff at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Wirral have always treated me like a human being and it's really important that the new hospital does the same.
And we're already taking Carol's feedback on board...
*Our Chemotherapy team really value this kind of feedback and the great news is that they’re already working towards Carol’s two big hopes for the future: seeing the same nurse every time and being able to have blood tests closer to home.
"We've designed the nurse rota into sectors so it's the same team of nurses at a particular site, enhancing continuity of care," explains Chemotherapy Ward Manager Fiona Courtnell (left). "Patients will get to know that team and the team gets to know each patient."
Patients can also now have their pre-treatment blood tests closer to home, explains Joan Spencer, General Manager for Chemotherapy (right): "We're actively informing patients when they come for pre-assessment and we're now encouraging people to have their bloods closer to home from 24 to 48 hours before treatment. It is much more convenient for patients and also saves them a journey here if their results show they can't have treatment."
