Published Monday 11 July 2016 at 10:46
Cancer services in East Lancashire scooped the top national award for Patient Safety in Cancer Care at the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards 2016 in Manchester recently. The HSJ Cancer Care award is sponsored by Macmillan Cancer Support.
The winning team represents collaboration between Blackburn with Darwen CCG, East Lancashire CCG and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. The team, led by Dr Neil Smith, a local GP, and Mrs Lynn Scott, Cancer Commissioning Manager was praised by the judges for their efforts, working in partnership with ELHT, Macmillan and other partners including Blackburn with Darwen Council to ensure delivery of consistently safe, excellent care.
In particular, the judges highlighted the success of services in reducing instances of harmful delayed diagnosis, including timely referral to specialist services when needed, strategies to improve the safety of treatment, and support for self-management. The work of the team has resulted in the establishment of coherent services for cancer survivors that address the disease’s long-term effects, helping patients to remain safe, well and supported.
Dr Neil Smith, who is a Blackburn GP and the GP lead for Cancer Commissioning in the area said:
I am delighted that collectively everyone in Pennine Lancashire have won this prestigious award. It is testament to the joint working, efforts and commitment of everyone who delivers cancer services in the area, working in partnership with patients and the voluntary sector.
While we have achieved a great deal in ensuring that symptoms of cancer are spotted earlier, and improving the treatment for patients if they have a diagnosis of cancer, there is much more we can do.
Michelle Pilling, Deputy Chair of East Lancashire CCG and Chair of the Quality and Safety Committee at the CCG said:
I am really pleased for the teams who have worked so hard to improve cancer services in the area. This award recognises the collaborative work taking place across cancer teams locally who are committed to improving cancer care. It is testament to the dedication of staff who are determined to improve the quality of care for patients affected by this terrible disease.
Dr Malcolm Ridgway, Blackburn GP and Clinical Director, Quality and Effectiveness at Blackburn with Darwen CCG said:
It is a fantastic achievement, particularly when the two CCGs were up against some stiff competition from some well-known national centres of excellence for cancer services. The team working with services have helped to transform how we support patients with cancer. It’s a collective effort and has resulted in improvements in cancer care, so this award is a fitting accolade.
Councillor Brian Taylor, Assistant Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:
This is a fantastic achievement and I’m delighted that projects such as the Macmillan Cancer Improvement Partnership (MCIP) in East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, that a number of Council staff have been employed as part of, have contributed to this success. The partnership has worked hard to provide better care and support for people affected by cancer, from the diagnosis, through treatment and beyond, and together we are delivering improved outcomes for patients and a much better patient experience for people affected by cancer in East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.
More than one in three people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. An ageing population, earlier detection and more effective treatment means that the number of people living with and beyond cancer is steadily increasing.