The Lincolnshire Macmillan Living with Cancer Programme has been awarded the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Eric Watts Award for Excellence in Patient Care and Patient Engagement. The Living with Cancer team is made up of partners across the Lincolnshire Integrated Care System, including United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT), Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and voluntary sector partners such as Every-one.
The award is given to a project that is considered a sterling example of patient and carer partnerships that are well evidenced at every stage of the programme.
The Lincolnshire Living with Cancer Programme is an innovative, collaborative, co-produced programme that aims to transform the way in which people affected by cancer access personalised support. The team is working to create a better and sustainable future for people living with cancer, and by placing people at the centre of everything it does, it is driving improvements in the local health and care system.
The programme has run for the past seven years, and in that time has made significant impact for cancer patients in Lincolnshire. That includes things such as personalised follow up pathways being implemented in breast, prostate, colorectal and endometrial cancer pathways, a model of support being developed to support patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing and 83% of patients now receiving a wellbeing check by their GP practice within three months of their diagnosis. The team has also developed a partnership with Anglian Water to support cancer patients to access financial support and is working with National Energy Action to provide access to home energy efficiency measures for cancer patients.
They have even supported the setup of support groups for several cancers, including kidney, lung and secondary breast cancer.
Kathie McPeake, Macmillan Living with Cancer Programme Manager, said: “We wanted to make lasting changes which were meaningful to people and communities. So, we asked people who knew what the challenges to living with after a cancer diagnosis were; people affected by cancer in Lincolnshire and those who care for them. We spoke to over 400 people, and they told us what their experience had been.”
Louise Jeanes, Lincolnshire’s Cancer Programme Director, said “I’m very proud of the team for being recognised by the RCP with this award, it is excellent recognition for the work they have done and continue to do, and the true value of co-production. The project would not be possible without the support of our local communities, including members of the Macmillan and Mablethorpe Cancer Co-production Groups, the Cancer Expert Reference Group, and the contributions of the hundreds of people affected by cancer in Lincolnshire, who willingly gave their time to tell us their stories.”
Find out more about the Living with Cancer Programme: Home :: Cancer Support Lincolnshire.