Doctors and nurses are usually the first port of call for cancer patients seeking information. That’s why we work closely with health professionals to help ensure their patients have access to all the highquality information that we offer.
The type and quality of information given to cancer patients varies across the UK. We would like to see a universal approach adopted. We are participating in a two-year project with the Mid Trent Cancer Network to establish patient information needs. In Scotland our nurses are involved in NHS-managed clinical networks, working with other health professionals to help ensure that all patients receive the best possible treatment and care.
This year we became the first organisation to distribute cancer information through the NHS Logistics catalogue. The catalogue is used by every Trust across the UK, to order everything from syringes to surgical instruments. This project gives NHS staff unprecedented exposure to our services and aims to facilitate even more widespread usage of our publications by health professionals.
We now regularly contact over 10,000 cancer health professionals to tell them about our range of cancer information services. This includes new and revised publications, core service developments, and new projects. We’ve also sent a pack of our posters, leaflets and contact cards to every GP surgery in the country.
A new scheme has enlisted the help of pharmaceutical sales reps to distribute our promotional materials as they visit health professionals across the UK. Many of the major companies have signed up to the voluntary scheme.
This year has also seen the launch of the Employee Benefit Initiative. Companies who sign up to the scheme are given a dedicated freephone helpline number for their employees to use. It enables employers to ensure that their staff who are affected by cancer receive information, support and guidance.
‘As a Cancer Network we value working in partnership with CancerBACUP; we can achieve greater things through joining up their expertise in the patient information arena, with our knowledge of what goes on at a local level’
Elaine Wilson, Nurse Director, Mid Trent Cancer Network