Harrogate Hospital to take part in pioneering ‘buddy scheme’

Harrogate Hospital has been chosen to take part in a pioneering ‘buddy scheme’ to help NHS trusts in England improve cancer patients’ experience of care.
NADV 1502184AM1 Cancer support team. Lead Cancer Nurse Paula Middlebrook(far right) with members of her team Sister Brenda McKenzie, Macmillian Cancer Nurse Louise Binns, Moira Freear (care support worker), Kath Donnelly(Clinical care support worker)Angela Broadley(medical Service secretary) and Helena Worsnop(Senior staff nurse) (1502184AM1)NADV 1502184AM1 Cancer support team. Lead Cancer Nurse Paula Middlebrook(far right) with members of her team Sister Brenda McKenzie, Macmillian Cancer Nurse Louise Binns, Moira Freear (care support worker), Kath Donnelly(Clinical care support worker)Angela Broadley(medical Service secretary) and Helena Worsnop(Senior staff nurse) (1502184AM1)
NADV 1502184AM1 Cancer support team. Lead Cancer Nurse Paula Middlebrook(far right) with members of her team Sister Brenda McKenzie, Macmillian Cancer Nurse Louise Binns, Moira Freear (care support worker), Kath Donnelly(Clinical care support worker)Angela Broadley(medical Service secretary) and Helena Worsnop(Senior staff nurse) (1502184AM1)

The trust will now be mentoring another NHS organisation over the coming months to help them learn from what Harrogate does and improve their patients’ experience of care.

Cancer services at the hospital were identified by the recent Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES) as being one of the most highly rated by patients.

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The news also comes after the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Andrew Jones, hailed the progress of cancer diagnosis and care at the hospital.

Figures released by the Department of Health revealed the hospital are treating 869 patients for cancer, 17 per cent more than in 2010 with 38 per cent more diagnostic tests taking place during that time.

As an advocate of campaigns supporting detection rates and early treatments, Mr Jones welcomed the opportunity for the hospital to share its expertise ‘to help improve survival rates and cancer care across the country’.

He said: “We know that we have one of the best Trusts in the country when it comes to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer care. This was confirmed by the independent Cancer Patient Experience Survey.

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“The professionalism of our healthcare staff here in Harrogate saves lives every single day. If this partnership can help improve patient survival rates more widely by sharing best practice that is a good thing for patients and their families.”

The aim of the scheme is to spread and accelerate innovative practice support and learning between the Trusts that have been paired up and, it is hoped, will reduce national variations in experiences of care.

Andrew Alldred, clinical director for Acute and Cancer Care, said he was pleased the hospital could play their part and believes both sides will learn from the experience.

He said: “It shows a real commitment to improving patients’ experience of care to take part.

“We’re looking forward to sharing some of the work we’ve done at Harrogate District Hospital and supporting them to try out new ways of working.”

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