Recognising our cancer support workers | News

Cancer support workers (CSW) across the county have been recognised by NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance.

CSWs work as part of the cancer care team alongside registered practitioners to improve care by helping to make a patient's experiences through treatment and beyond as smooth as possible. 

There are around 74 CSWs working in Kent and Medway offering practical, emotional and social support, such as signposting services and making enquiries on a patient's behalf.

This may be:

• listening to patients' concerns to understand what matters to them
• providing information about financial support and other practical assistance available
• offering advice and information about general wellbeing and healthy lifestyles
• ensuring religious and spiritual beliefs are respected.

CSWs, nominated by colleagues, were presented with certificates of recognition at a NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance event on 7 December.

Medical Director for Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance Ritchie Chalmers, who is a breast and oncoplastic surgeon working at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: “Our cancer support workers provide our patients with essential practical and emotional help throughout their journey.

“The words that patients and colleagues have used to describe the support they give say it all:  'wonderful, knowledgeable, essential, reassuring.'”

CSWs receiving certificates were:

• Medway NHS Foundation Trust's (MFT) Alina Takazauskaite and Sara Witt 
• East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust's (EKHUFT) Louise Muddiman, Claire Hamilton and Vicky Stevenson
• Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust's (MTW) Emily Parsons, Louise Griva and former colleague Tabatha Curtis, and Maxine Milburn 
• Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust's (DGT) Louise Sterne and Kathy Mutwale. 

Dr Bana Haddad, a GP in Chatham and Clinical Lead for Personalised Care at NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance said:

“When people are going through cancer treatment, having someone there to help guide and signpost to practical support available can make all the difference.”

CSWs (pictured below) from across Kent and Medway joined colleagues receiving certificates at the recognition event in Maidstone.

CSWs at Medway NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).

CSWs at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (DGT).

CSWs at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW).

CSWs at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT).

CSWs receiving certificates

EKHUFT CSW Claire Hamilton with Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance Programme Director Ian Vousden.