Latest news with #cancerCare
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Speaking up for cancer survivors
Winnipeg Watch Denise Dreikluft, physiotherapist and study lead, shares how Manitobans can help improve cancer rehab care.
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Queen Camilla braves the rain to visit a Maggie's cancer care centre in Scotland as she praises staff's 'invaluable' work
As the Princess of Wales talked today about the 'rollercoaster' of cancer recovery, her mother-in-law, Queen Camilla, praised the 'invaluable' work of Maggie's cancer care centres. The Queen, 77, was visiting one of its 24 centres nationwide at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, in her role as Maggie's President. Greeting its inspirational founder and chief executive, Dame Laura Lee, with a warm hug, Her Majesty spoke of how 'brilliant' the centres were for patients and their families. 'There is something so special about them,' she said. Maggie's Fife was set up in 2006 with the help of £161 million Euromillions lottery winner Christine Harkness, who is now an honorary patron. She met the Queen today, who thanked her profusely for her support. She was also greeted by Sarah Brown, wife of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and journalist Kirsty Wark, also honorary patrons of the charity. Camilla also met with people living with cancer - like her husband, the King - to hear about how they are supported by Maggie's, sipping from a mug of tea. She also made a point of thanking volunteers, saying: 'It couldn't operate without people like you.' Maggie's has long been a trailblazer for cancer care, providing free psychological, emotional and practical support for anyone living with cancer, as well as their family and friends. The centres are built outside of the hospitals they are attached to in order to provide a comforting space away from the rigorous of diagnosis and treatment, allowing people to be supported by those who understand what they are going through. Speaking after the visit, during which Camilla posed for a photograph with guests at the event, Dame Laura said: 'It is always a joy to welcome Her Majesty to one of our centres, especially one she has never been to before. 'As always, she was incredibly generous with her time and listened closely to our centre visitors as they shared their stories. We are so grateful for her continued support.' Gregor Forbes, 37, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma in January 2022, added: ' She was warm, friendly and interested to hear what I had to say about my own cancer experience and how I had been supported by Maggie's in Fife. It's a day I will never forget.' The Queen has been President of Maggie's since 2008 and has now visited 18 of the 24 centres across the UK. With centres soon to open in North Wales, Northampton and Middlesbrough, there will be 27 centres in the UK by the end of 2025. Elsewhere, King Charles appeared moved as he and Queen Camilla unveiled a memorial stone marking the spot where Queen Elizabeth's coffin lay in Edinburgh 's historic St Giles' Cathedral on Wednesday. Greeting its inspirational founder and chief executive, Dame Laura Lee, with a warm hug, Her Majesty (pictured) spoke of how 'brilliant' the centres were for patients and their families The couple attended a short but meaningful service of dedication for the black slate stone, engraved with the Scottish crown and ER cypher together with the date when Her Late Majesty rested on her final journey back down to London after dying at Balmoral in 2022. Rev Dr Scott Rennie, Minister of St Giles, told them: 'We give thanks for our great sovereign who lived a life of deep faith, humble service and unwavering devotion to duty. 'We honour her legacy of constantly in times of change, of grave in moments of challenge and of steadfast commitment to the people she served. 'As this stone becomes in time a place of memory, let it also be a sign of inspiration, calling all who pass by to live lives of self-giving love, steadfast devotion and commitment to the common good. ' A service of thanksgiving and vigil took place in the cathedral on September 12 and 13 2022. The new permanent memorial is located on the floor near the Holy Table where Queen Elizabeth's coffin lay. No other sovereign has had such a Service of Thanksgiving in Scotland, with the breadth of Scottish society in attendance. Following the service, a vigil was held and, over the following 23 hours, more than 33,000 people queued to pay their respects. The late Queen's children, including the King, also held their own vigil for their mother. While her coffin was present in the cathedral, the Royal Company of Archers, the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland, mounted guard - and some of the same officers were present today. The engraving on the stone was carried out by Roxanne Kindersley from the renowned Cardozo Kindersley Workshop in Cambridge, who also met the King and chatted about some of her other work he had seen, he described it as 'brilliant'. Rev Dr Scott Rennie, minister of St Giles', said: 'It has been a great honour and privilege to welcome Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla back to St Giles' for such a special event as we commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth, who visited the cathedral many times, with the Dedication of the Memorial Stone. 'It is fitting that St Giles', which has been at the heart of Scottish civic and religious life for more than 900 years, was able to host the 33,000 people who came to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth. 'St Giles' was probably founded by David I in around 1124 so there has been a strong royal connection since the beginning.'
Times
22-06-2025
- Health
- Times
Sunday Times letters: Restoring public confidence in the NHS
Write to letters@ Shaun Lintern ('An extra £29bn a year to spend, but it's public trust that NHS bosses fear squandering', politics, Jun 15) is right to point out that the public is losing patience with the NHS but he omits to mention that there is still widespread support for the principles of tax funding and universal coverage on which the NHS is based. Restoring public confidence must involve progress in improving patients' access to care and in preventing illness. The government's mission concerning the NHS included improving healthy life expectancy for all and reducing the gap in healthy life expectancy between the English regions. The ten-year NHS plan, which is due to be published soon, must set out the measures that will be taken to implement this mission through action on the wider determinants of health and in the NHS Sir Chris HamChief executive of the King's Fund 2010-18; Solihull, W Midlands Further to your report, the National Health Service, which was founded in the year I was born, has become an outdated concept. The arrogance of NHS and political leaders of all persuasions in failing to embrace or even investigate other countries' health services over the years has led to a failure in cancer care, mental health care and palliative care, as well as an inability to cut waiting times for surgery and improve access to A&E and GP services. France, Canada and other nations run their health services so much better than we do, using hybrid models in which everyone enjoys the benefits. The question is whether Wes Streeting and the present NHS honchos can admit past errors in policy and get their act together. There is more at stake than public Derek Pettit (ret'd)Newnham on Severn, Glos I am mystified why politicians keep saying that workers in the NHS need to be 'more productive'. Staff already go above and beyond what they are paid for in terms of the hours worked and the care given, to compensate for an inadequately sized workforce. There is no point in providing more community facilities for medical investigations if there is nobody to staff them. Remember the staffing struggles at the Nightingale hospitals set up during the pandemic? I was born in the same year as the NHS and, having worked in it, was a long-time supporter of the organisation. Now, like many elderly friends, I have a deep dread of having to go to A&E and perhaps waiting days on a trolley for treatment or HoffState registered nurse (ret'd), London E14 Your report on the chancellor's spending plans is yet another insight into the Labour mindset ('Praying for something to turn up', politics, Jun 15). The ten-year plan to 'plough £750 billion into infrastructure' will include the launch of a website featuring details of the government's 'pipeline of the projects' plus a new industrial strategy to include energy subsidies for manufacturing companies. That's all well and good but others might suggest that, while the nation is hugely in debt, the best policy would be one focusing on consolidation. With the economy on its knees, productivity at its lowest ebb and unemployment at 4.6 per cent — not forgetting the colossal sums suggested for the defence review and the sizeable costs of the spending review — Labour's 'pipeline of the projects' seems more like a 'programme of the vanities'.Alastair ConanCoulsdon, Surrey We should not be wasting taxpayers' money on charging points for electric vehicles because government grants are merely leading councils to rush into installing low-powered chargers instead of providing the infrastructure that drivers need ('Supercharge EVs to drive Britain's car industry out of the doldrums', business, Jun 15). It is fortunate that the private EV charging industry has committed £6 billion to installing public charging. A privately funded rollout would be quicker and more efficient. We know which areas need charging and exactly where to put them. We don't need the government to use taxpayers' money: we simply need it to streamline planning rules and grid connections so we can handle it ourselves. A quicker rollout would not only improve public confidence in electric vehicles but would also create jobs, skills and opportunities. At a time when the government is obsessed with 'growth', it is surprising that it hasn't grasped the EV opportunity with both GhafoorChief Executive, Anthony Horowitz's admission that he dislikes being called Grandpa (Jun 15) led my wife and me to realise we're not alone. We decided our four grandchildren should call us 'Crisp' and 'Jelly'. It's easier for the children and fun for and Jenny ChapmanMendlesham Green, Suffolk I had no problem with being called Grandad but, after a discussion with my granddaughter about rap artists, I am now happy to be known as ForwardRedditch, Worcs Bill Jones outlined a fair way to manage illegal migrants arriving on our shores (letter, Jun 15). The welfare state has been stretched far beyond its limits. In building modern Singapore, the political genius Lee Kuan Yew said his priority was to build a 'fair, not welfare, society', while he thought our welfare state was the root of Britain's malaise. Few would ReidWoodford, Lancs Dianne and Charlie Hubbert, who have fostered more than 50 children, are an inspiration (magazine, Jun 15). Their story was heartwarming, uplifting and made me cry, but for all the right BrennanBolton Your report on gig prices struck a chord ('Hot tickets: are we being ripped off?', culture, Jun 15). A friend and I recently tried to book tickets to see Johnny Marr in Southampton. We called at the specified release time — to be told a minute or so later that the show had sold out. Soon after, £40 tickets for the show were being offered for more than £1,000 each on a resale site. In Europe, tickets are cheaper and more easily available to fans rather than being snapped up by bots and touts. If venues really want to keep live music alive, they need to revert to selling direct to fans, including via record stores and ticket Ladd-JonesSwanmore, Hants Finally parental burnout is 'a thing' ('Don't be ashamed if you're sick of your little darlings', news, Jun 15). For years I assumed I was the only mother who dreaded weekends and holidays as I didn't have the patience required to be both nurturing and entertaining for hours on end. Sometimes I'd hope for rain so instead of taking them to the park I could close my eyes on the sofa while they made a den out of chairs and sheets. Striving for perfection helps no one, least of all children, and merely provokes self-loathing. My children are now 26 and 27, with fond memories of being urged to watch yet another Thomas the Tank Engine video so that their father and I could take a CalmanLondon SE21 Dominic Lawson's article 'Putin's sway over the US is worse than you think' (Jun 15) prompted me to look at the way Vladimir Putin took over the Russian Federation. In the early days of his rule he ensured he had all the 'dirt' on his victims before toppling them. Perhaps this is the case with President Trump, whom Putin appears to disdain but who is the right man in the right place to help Putin to save his own ServaesHambledon, Surrey It is no surprise that UK chief executives are falling behind their US counterparts when half of the UK's productivity gap with the US is down to poor management capabilities ('The recipe for a great British CEO', books, Jun 15). As an American who has lived in the UK for three decades, I have seen how seriously the US takes management: investing in business schools, training chief executives in people leadership and strategy and valuing management experience. In the UK we still live with the David Brent effect, treating middle managers as punchlines instead of vital leaders. Unsurprisingly, 82 per cent of managers are given the role with no formal training. We ought not to write off our chief executives but instead train FranckeCEO, Chartered Management Institute Perhaps Professor Elizabeth Whittaker should 'employ' old people like me (I am 89) to tell parents who are scared to inoculate their children how awful childhood diseases can be ('The antivax whisperer winning the wary round to the jab', news, Jun 15). In 1942, aged six, I contracted measles. A sturdy child, I recovered fairly quickly, but my sister, aged three, was desperately ill and lost the sight in one eye. In 1965, our daughters also contracted measles and were both very ill. To our great relief, by the time our third daughter was born the measles vaccine was available. My grandmother had 13 children; six died of childhood illnesses. So much has been achieved since then. We must not let it be thrown away because of HartWatford I loved Matt Rudd's article on artificial fragrances and his weekly shopping woes (magazine, Jun 15). I, too, bought coconut-scented loo rolls by mistake. Looking on the bright side, at least my bathroom smells like a tropical MacLeanCheltenham Send your letter to: letters@ Please include an address for publication and a phone number in case of any queries. Letters should be received by midday on the Thursday before publication.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer care staff to receive compassion fatigue resilience training
Cancer care staff at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) will receive compassion fatigue resilience training. The initiative, funded by a grant from the Blue Light Card Foundation, aims to support the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of NHS staff. The intense nature of cancer care, involving patient distress, high-pressure environments and difficult discussions, can lead to compassion fatigue. This state of exhaustion endangers the health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals and compromises care quality. The training aims to help UHD cancer care staff recognise early signs of compassion fatigue. They will learn effective coping strategies to protect their emotional and mental health. Jo Valentine, UHD cancer nurse specialist lead, said: "It's so important that specialist nurses and healthcare professionals working in cancer care access this type of training because they often experience constant exposure to patients going through life-changing diagnoses, treatment, the effects of treatment, and ongoing care and regularly deal with breaking bad news. "By providing this training to staff, members of our team will be able to recognise symptoms, develop effective coping strategies and help sustain emotional and mental wellbeing. "Plus, patients will benefit from having a more emotionally balanced and engaged workforce. "Investing in staff wellbeing is one of our Trust's core values and helps build stronger teams where staff feel valued and supported." The cost of this training is £7,372, which will be covered by the Blue Light Card Foundation. Karen Smith, senior charity manager at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, said: "We are so incredibly grateful for the support to fund this vital compassion fatigue training. "This is one of the most meaningful projects I've had the privilege to be part of." Emma Woods-Bolger, chief executive of the Blue Light Card Foundation, said: "We're proud to support this initiative from University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, which speaks to the heart of why the Foundation exists. "Cancer care professionals give so much of themselves, often at great personal cost. "This project provides space and skills to help them care for themselves too because protecting their wellbeing is essential to protecting the quality of care they offer others."
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lack of doctors causing cancer delays
A senior radiologist has said there are not enough doctors to keep up with the number of cancer patients needing scan results, diagnosis and treatment. Dr Tom Roques, vice president of clinical oncology at the Royal College of Radiologists, who also works at Norwich and Norfolk University Hospital, claimed the NHS was struggling to meet the government's 62-day diagnosis targets in cancer care. However, Steffan Aquarone, North Norfolk MP, believed another significant challenge was ensuring patients in rural areas could access treatment. A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We are determined to tackle delays, diagnose cancer earlier and treat it faster." Dr Roques described a shortage of both radiologists and doctors. He said: "People are waiting for scan results or waiting for diagnoses and we're also really short of cancer doctors. "There are delays further down the line in actually having that treatment because there aren't enough people to provide it." However, he says the problem was not just a Norfolk issue. "We are just not able to meet the government-set targets which themselves, are not that ambitious really. "If you don't have the staff and nurses and the physical space to treat them [patients] then people are not going to be able to have the treatment they deserve." Matt Sample, from Cancer Research UK, said the 62-day government target had been missed annually since 2015, with 74,000 people not beginning treatment within that target last year. He said: "For people affected by cancer, every single day waiting to get that diagnosis and begin treatment is a worrying and stressful time even when they are seen within targets. "When those targets are missed, those worries and stresses are just compounded - it can impact their treatment options and ultimately their outcomes. Liberal Democrat Aquarone agreed, saying "more people die than are necessary". He remains concerned about the ability of people in rural areas to get cancer care. "This is entirely about access to treatment," he said. Julie Keeling, nurse director for planned care at Norwich and Norfolk University Hospital, said: "Our latest validated figures show that as of March 2025, 51.8 % of patients receiving first treatment for cancer are treated by day 62, with 48.2 % of patients waiting over 62 days for first cancer treatment. It is encouraging that this is an improvement on previous data. "We know that we have more to do and are sorry that some patients have had to wait longer than expected to see us following a cancer referral." The Department of Health and Social Care said: "We are delivering 40,000 more appointments every week, investing £1.5bn in both new surgical hubs and AI scanners, rolling out cutting-edge radiotherapy machines to every region in the country and backing our radiologists and oncologists with above inflation pay rises for the second year in a row." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Cancer patient's treatment was delayed - coroner Hospital praised for breast cancer surgery wait time Hospital has second-longest waiting time for care NHS struggling to provide safe cancer care, say doctors Department of Health and Social Care Norwich and Norfolk University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Cancer Research UK
