1998/1999 Annual Review - Patient Services

"Throughout 1998/99 the Patient Services Directorate has worked to develop and expand these activities, always with the benefit to patients and families in mind."

Ward Upgrades
The environment in which patients are cared for is particularly important, and CCO has continued with its programme of improvements and upgrades. Dee ward was closed for three months, during which time the bathroom and toilet facilities were completely rebuilt using most up-to-date fixtures and fittings. The patient sitting rooms were refurbished and the generous support of the WRVS allowed new furniture and carpets to be purchased. The upgrade also allowed the construction of a private interview room, which can be used by staff, patients and families when an uninterrupted consultation is required.(Photo: Dee Ward upgrade)

A proportion of CCO patients are able to care for themselves and require accommodation in hospital only because they live too far away to travel each day for their treatment. In recognising this, CCO has adapted a ground floor ward to accommodate both male and female hotel type patients. The Snaefell hotel ward has been redecorated and a number of new items of furniture have been purchased to make the area as little like a hospital as possible. (Photo:Dee Ward bathroom)

Outpatient Department
The outpatients clinic in CCO has also benefited from refurbishment and upgrading. The removal of some internal walls has almost doubled the available space and has created some very welcome daylight in the waiting area. Two new examination rooms have been constructed as well as an office for the radiotherapy support nurse and the outpatient manager. Both staff and patients alike have responded very positively to the changes, which have made a significant difference to the operation of this busy clinic area. (Photo: Out-Patient Department)

Information
CCO recognises that the provision of accurate, relevant and understandable information is of great importance to patients and families. The range of information leaflets published by the hospital has been expanded and with the generous support of Macmillan Cancer Relief, three rooms in the refurbished outpatient department have been designated as an information centre. The plan is to open the information centre in September 1999, and to provide a diverse range of information material including books, leaflets, videos, audio tapes and computer accessed information. A project manager, funded by Macmillan for two years, and specialist clinical staff from CCO on a rotational basis will staff the centre. CCO’s core business is the delivery of cancer treatment and care to its patient population. (Photo: Anne Turtle, Macmillan Information Centre)

Operational Issues
During the year, CCO has taken over responsibility for some general office functions which were previously handled by Wirral Hospital Trust.

In particular, these included administration of travel claim refunds for patients at CCO, which means that the patients no longer have to cross the large Clatterbridge site.

The death of a patient is always a sad time and CCO has been able to provide a significantly improved service for bereaved families by CCO’s senior nurses providing bereavement support. Informal feedback suggests this is greatly valued by family members.

Palliative Care
Much of the treatment and care provided by CCO is palliative in nature. However, no dedicated post has previously been identified. The generous support of Macmillan Cancer Relief has enabled CCO to advertise for a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care, and once appointed this person will join the already well established Rehabilitation and Support Services Team.

Clinical Trials
CCO is involved in significant numbers of clinical trials, mainly in chemotherapy. During 1998/99 a bid to the Cancer Research Campaign was successful and CCO is now one of four members of a multi-centre trial which will demonstrate the outcomes for patients of aromatherapy massage and relaxation. CCO staff already qualified in these areas will be delivering the treatments, and a research assistant has been funded through the research grant. (Photo: Joyce Beckley, Radiotherapy Support Nurse)

External Links
CCO Patient Services Directorate continues to develop and expand its links beyond the boundaries of Wirral and Merseyside. During 1998/99 CCO has welcomed two pre-medical school German students who have worked with us for a year. In addition, clinical placements have been provided for nurses from Germany and from Nigeria. More formal links have been developed with the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, and following a second visit by the Director of Patient Services in February, arrangements have been made for 2 Pakistani nurses to undertake the ENB 237 course in CCO. (Photo: Staff Nurses, Sarah Roelveld and Sadiqa Nayee)

Education
In September 1998, 8 members of the Patient Services Directorate attended the 10th International Conference on Cancer Nursing in Jerusalem. Staff members presented posters and were able to attend seminars and presentations on a variety of cancer topics. The fifth CCO Cancer Care conference was held in Chester in February 1999, and was very positively evaluated.

It attracted over 150 delegates from all over the country, and concurrent sessions gave healthcare professionals the opportunity to present results of original work, and to promote new and innovative ideas for patient care and support. (Photo:Mairi Crilley, Senior Dietitian)

The Clinical Education department in CCO has continued to expand and to provide an increasing number of courses and other learning opportunities. In 1998/99 the first ever post-graduate oncology course for Professions Allied to Medicine was offered, and was fully subscribed. The department has been successful in its bids to the Education Consortium for resources, to develop a distance learning programme based on the PAMs Oncology Course, and also more recently, to update the Nature of Cancer course which has proved so popular both with CCO staff and with staff from other organisations.

The Patient Services Directorate continues to receive commitment and support from the staff working in it. In spite of increasing workloads and the increasing dependency of patients who are admitted to CCO, directorate staff are to be congratulated on maintaining a high standard of care, which has been demonstrated through regular audit of the agreed care standards. (Photo: Staff at the 10th International Conference on Cancer Nursing in Jerusalem Craft Classes)

Volunteers
CCO is very fortunate to have the willing and committed support both of the WRVS and of its own team of volunteers. During the year, the WRVS has donated over £50,000, which has been spent solely for the benefit of patients and visitors. The items purchased have included furniture, fittings, towelling dressing gowns and curtains. The CCO team of volunteers continues to provide valuable support both on the reception desk and through providing tea and coffee for patients in clinic and treatment waiting areas. The craft class solely run by the volunteers provides a valuable opportunity for patients to become involved in something completely separate from their treatment. CCO also benefits from the support of the Wirral Cancer Support Group whose members provide a monthly social event for patients, and also a weekly mini bus tour, which enables patients who are sufficiently fit to visit various places of interest in the area. CCO is grateful for the generous and enthusiastic support it receives from all volunteers. (Photo:Craft Classes)