|
Building update
Skanksa formally handover the building to UCLH at the end of January, after which a nine week commissioning period to get the building ready to open to patients will begin.
Cancer Centre project office update
The Cancer Centre project office will be based on site from the start of the nine week commissioning period. The project team includes; Jessica Tudor-Williams, Cancer Centre general manager, Vicki Kirby, Cancer Centre assistant general manager and Olivia Mulholland the newly appointed Cancer Centre project assistant. Please contact Olivia with any project related queries: olivia.mulholland@uclh.nhs.uk.
Macmillan Support and Information Service (MSIS)
As the building nears completion we are even more actively planning how the teams that will become the Macmillan Support and Information Service (MSIS) will work together in the new space. Hilary Plant and Lallita Carballo are newly appointed as the Heads of the Macmillan Support and Information Service at UCLH. They bring with them a wealth of experience as experts with a long track record in the development and implementation of supportive care services for cancer patients, their families and staff. Hilary started in post on 11th January and Lallita will join her on 26th March.
Further appointments for specialist nurses and support workers are planned. With Macmillan, we have been choosing furniture for the area which will complement that in the rest of the building while giving the service an individual and comfortable style of its own. The service will provide an immediate drop-in emotional support and information service for cancer and haematology patients and their carers, as well as continuing this support on an appointment basis where appropriate. Services will include complementary therapy, counselling, welfare and benefit advice and lymphoedema care. Ideas for group sessions for patients are being suggested by patients and staff and will provide new opportunities for everyone involved.
PETMR unit update
Installation and testing of the new PET/MR system has now begun, led by Siemens engineers from Germany and the UK with input by UCLH’s nuclear medicine and MR physicists. This phase of the project will run through to late February when extensive staff training can begin, followed by a short period when the Unit’s clinical PET/MR test protocols will be defined and tested on the system, after which it will be ready for clinical use in time for the opening of the Centre. In agreement with the Cancer Centre and the UCLH Charity who have funded the system, we will be imaging patients both with cancer and also other conditions for which PET/MR has a clinical benefit over PET/CT; particularly neurological conditions. Research studies will also be undertaken on the system relating to these applications.
Information, communications and technology (ICT) update
In January we started with the training and the pilots for three new cancer systems; the CDR Scheduler, Check & Track, and the Patient Portal. This brings us step closer to our goal of treating the patient's entire cancer pathways as a series of linked events rather being shuffled between different departments. It will help give patients a clear sense of where they are within their pathway and help simplify the ways we communicate with not just the patient, but each other too. Teams working with lung, myeloma, brain, bladder cancer and anti-coagulation patients have started using different aspects of this new way of working in live settings so we'll be ready to go when the Centre opens. Inevitably they’ve also been helping to find the remaining gremlins and squash the last few bugs so huge thanks to everyone involved!
Volunteers wanted for UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre
Volunteers will be a core part of the Cancer Centre team, ensuring that patients, their carers and loved ones receive the very best information, care and support and is now recruiting our first phase of volunteers. We are looking for committed and enthusiastic people for a range of roles including greeting and guiding and providing information, support and advice services as well as complementary therapies and activities for young adults and teenagers. This is an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of people affected by cancer as well learning new skills and meeting inspiring people. If you are interested in volunteering or know anyone who might be, please help us by spreading the word! Find out more on our website, by emailing cancer.centre@uclh.nhs.uk or by calling Naomi on 0203 4477360.
Communications update
We are currently in the process of updating the Cancer Centre intranet and website pages. In the run up to the opening these pages will be updated frequently with information such as the status of projects and other interesting information. If you would like to know more or have suggestions for other Cancer Centre related information on either of these sites please contact: olivia.mulholland@uclh.nhs.uk. |