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National award for Falmouth Palliative Care Team
Central Cornwall Primary Care Trust was acknowledged as a leader in community
palliative care at a prestigious award ceremony at the Savoy Hotel in London,
last month. Members of the Palliative Care Team, based in the Health Centre
Falmouth were presented with the Multidisciplinary Teamwork Award in the
International National Nursing Awards 2005. This prestigious award is given for
innovative work where care for cancer patients is breaking new ground at point
of delivery. The awards were organised by Macmillan Cancer Relief and the
International Journal of Palliative Nursing. Nurses from around the world were
rewarded in different categories for their work in places like India, Russia and
Maldovia, as well as Cornwall and the U.K. Aldyth Hambly, the Macmillan Nurse
Specialist, who developed the concept of a multi-disciplinary clinic to support
cancer patients and their carers, said: "We never expected this when we started
out! The red carpet treatment at the Savoy in London was very exciting and this
national recognition means we now have a greater responsibility to nurture and
develop the idea." Central Cornwall Primary Care Trust Chief Executive Lyn
Manuell congratulated the team on their tremendous effort, saying: "We're
absolutely delighted that the work of the palliative care team in Falmouth has
been recognised at the highest level. Their hard work and determination has been
duly rewarded." Aldyth said: "The original idea was to offer better services to
cancer patients and their carers in a way that helped them meet the challenges
they face - we are doing this through improved neighbourhood social and
specialist medical support. By bringing patients and their carers together in a
friendly and supportive environment we are able to see more people, they support
each other and I am able to refer them there and then to other members of the
team for further specialist advice or therapies. "We now have to continue this
work and make it even more effective - it is a challenge, which the whole team
is looking forward to accepting. We have been really well supported by the
Central Cornwall Primary Care Trust and this is perhaps another instance, if
only in a small way, where Cornwall is leading the way in health care.” The
project is also funded by Macmillan and involves lots of cross agency working.
Reproduced from Central Life by kind permission of
Louise Williams
Page added 2nd June 2005 |
