A CANCER support charity is investing over £200,000 to fund two specialist cancer nurse development posts in Bradford.
Macmillan state that a “crisis in cancer nursing” has left more than half a million people with cancer in the UK with a lack of dedicated support.
The charity estimate that the specialist cancer workforce needs an extra 2,500 specialist cancer nurses now, with this figure expected to rise to 3,700 by 2030.
To address this issue the charity has launched the ‘Macmillan Cancer Nurse Specialist Workforce Development Programme’, investing almost £4.5 million across Yorkshire and the North East of England, this includes two specialist cancer nurse development posts at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Gillian Hollingsworth, Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Macmillan programme will help support developing and growing a capable, competent, knowledgeable and skilled specialist cancer nurse workforce which will help succession planning, as well as provide an exciting career progression from generalist nurse to Clinical Nurse Specialist role.
“Undoubtedly the Macmillan investment into the development roles will help contribute significantly to specialist cancer nursing care provision and align to Macmillan delivery of cancer workforce strategy.
“The Macmillan programme provides the new post-holders with the specialist education, training through university placements, with dedicated time and space to develop into the specialist roles, ensuring we’re bringing the brightest and best into our cancer nursing services, as well as developing the cancer nursing leadership of the future.”
The charity is warning that too many people in the North of England cannot access specialist cancer care, with too few Macmillan Cancer Nurse Specialists employed across the region, and over one-third of specialist nurses approaching retirement nationally.
Heather McLean, Macmillan’s Head of Partnerships for the North, added: “Macmillan Cancer Nurse Specialists are the people at the heart of cancer care, this unique role makes a huge difference to people diagnosed with cancer and their families at a very distressing time in their lives.
“There are currently a huge number of specialist cancer nurse vacancies across Yorkshire because it’s increasingly difficult to get people with the right knowledge and skills, who are ready to step into those specialist nursing posts.”
Anyone diagnosed with cancer can contact the Macmillan Support Line seven days a week on 0808 808 00 00 or visit the Macmillan website (www.macmillan.org.uk).
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