Winner
Electronic Holistic Needs Assessment, Care and Support Planning
By Macmillan Cancer Support
The Electronic Holistic Needs Assessment, Care and Support planning tool has been developed over the last four years. Working with NHS trusts, the charity has developed an effective, easy to use tool that provides a simple process for assessing the needs of cancer patients and providing appropriate care and support. All of this is written up in an electronic record that can be saved and shared with patient and the wider MDT. It starts with the patient filling in a questionnaire about their concerns, on a touch screen device, and the concerns are sent to their health or social care professionals to help inform their discussions.
Judges’ comments
“This was a solid piece of work and a big undertaking for Macmillan that focused on a major problem for cancer services. A really strong project with a wealth of data behind it and room to improve even further. This could be used to build cases for funding of services.”
Finalist
Younger Women with Secondaries Together
By Breast Cancer Care
Breast Cancer Care identified particular needs for younger women with secondary breast cancer which were not being addressed and in 2014 piloted a residential two-day event for this group in London. Thirty-seven women attended and evaluation feedback was overwhelmingly positive. In-depth follow-up demonstrated that the event had a very significant impact on the attendees and many had changed their behaviour or made other changes in their lives as a direct result. The event was run for a second time in 2015 in Manchester. Every client who attended said they would recommend the service to others. Breast Cancer Care has now committed to delivering this event annually.
Judges’ comments
“As an example of a way to engage a less well-supported patient group, this was very good and, although currently only a pilot, it’s already been replicated!”
Finalist
Complementary Health & Wellbeing Services
By The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
This charity-funded service provides a range of interventions for patients, carers and staff aimed at improving health and wellbeing. Over the last 15 years the service has expanded across four sites and delivered over 13,000 interventions in the last 12 months. Work focuses on health and wellbeing; patients with anxieties, panic and phobias associated with medical procedures; assisting with complex symptoms, such as mucositis, cancer related fatigue and peripheral neuropathy. Patients, carers and colleagues help drive the work - providing feedback and support. In these times of austerity and a demand for quality evidence, it is essential that charity funded services demonstrate safety, efficacy, value for money and sustainability.
Judges’ comments
“The judges like the way the two service partners worked together across sectors with no judgement by either side as they worked to provide a more holistic service – and one within a strong infrastructure that provided really good results.”