What s inside. President s remarks. Mission Statement Inspiring Cancer Nursing. Website Join UKONS Forthcoming events Breaking news. Contact us.

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1 Mission Statement Inspiring Cancer Nursing Issue 24 Winter 2013 What s inside Website Join UKONS Forthcoming events Breaking news Contact us Lynn Adams 2 The Royal College of Nursing Northen Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards 3 Could you be a UKONS ambassador? 4 UKONS Annual Conference UKONS conference AGM 7 UKONS conference poster exhibition 9 UKONS conference workshops 11 Look Good Feel Better 12 The European Oncology Nursing Society Lifetime Achievement Award 13 President s remarks Welcome to the winter edition of the UKONS newsletter. This edition comes at a time of great success for UKONS but also at a time of great sadness. The sadness comes as a result of the death of our esteemed friend and colleague, Lynn Adams. Lynn was a UKONS Board Member for several years and was a keen and passionate advocate for cancer nursing in Scotland. She will be greatly missed by us all. This sad news tempers the pleasure that should be felt by all UKONS members following a very successful annual conference. The quality of the speakers, the exhibition and the workshops were of the usual standard and were a testimony to the strength and commitment of cancer nurses across the UK. I was particularly pleased to catch up with old friends and meet many of the new generation of cancer nurses who are imbuing the profession with their zest, enthusiasm and energy. Surely there can be no more fitting memorial to Lynn than to capture these qualities and suffuse them throughout cancer nursing at every level and in every care setting. UKONS Board Members 14 Forthcoming events 15 Natalie Doyle UKONS conference photos 15 The UKONS Board 16 Corporate members 16 Eisai is a Bronze Partner of UKONS. Sponsored with an educational grant. Lilly is a Bronze Partner of UKONS. Sponsored with an educational grant. Norgine is a Bronze Partner of UKONS. Sponsored with an educational grant. Roche Products Ltd is a Partner of UKONS. Sponsored with an educational grant. Print

2 Lynn Adams Mhairi Simpson, Nurse Consultant, Cancer Care, NHS Lanarkshire It is with great sadness that UKONS reports the death of our great friend and colleague, Lynn Adams. Lynn was a Consultant Cancer Nurse for NHS Grampian and was based in Aberdeen. She had over twenty-five years experience in cancer care gained from clinical, operational and strategic management posts in London, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. In her role as a Consultant Cancer Nurse, she provided strategic direction and leadership to nurses in cancer care across NHS Grampian and represented nursing in local, regional and national planning groups whilst playing a key role in the integration of care across acute and community settings. Lynn was also an Associate Lecturer at Robert Gordon University where she contributed to the development of curricula and the research agenda. Lynn was one of the first Cancer Nurse Specialists in Scotland and was responsible for mentoring a significant number of Scotland s current and past cancer nurses. Throughout her career, Lynn was a pioneer, leading change whilst inspiring cancer nurses. She was one of Scotland s representatives on the UKONS Board and served for several years as our membership secretary. Lynn s priority was always the delivery of high quality care for patients and their families. She was marvellous fun with a devilish twinkle in her eye, but could be earnest and serious when it mattered. She loved meeting people, engaging in chat and left everyone with a smile on their faces. She will be greatly missed by her husband, family, friends and colleagues. Lynn Adams 2 Home Print

3 The Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards Laura Croan, UKONS Member and Haematology Outreach Nurse, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Laura Croan, UKONS Member and Haematology Outreach Nurse, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, won the Patient Choice Award at the recent Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards. In this article, Laura discusses her nomination and the personal and professional impact that it has had. I found out I had been nominated for the RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Award after a patient (I shall call him Patrick) had sadly gone home following the failure of his treatment. Simon Darby, our CLIC Sargent Social Worker, was still involved with Patrick and his family following his discharge from the ward, and I was shocked and moved when he informed me that Patrick had nominated me. I had little idea that my attempts to build a rapport with Patrick had made such a difference to his care. Patrick was 19 when he was admitted to the Haematology Unit in Belfast City Hospital with acute myeloid leukaemia. He was very angry and unaccepting of his diagnosis and had struggled with depression. This left him very volatile and often very difficult to nurse. At times, he didn t want treatment and would leave the ward, resulting in nursing staff being very concerned with his safety. I could see that he was terrified so I tried to build up a therapeutic relationship with him. This involved talking to him about his treatment and helping him cope with the side effects. Laura Croan At times, he just wanted someone to sit with him. After he passed away, Simon gave me a card that Patrick had left for me. It read that if it wasn t for me, he wouldn t have accepted his first course of chemotherapy, and he really appreciated all my efforts. It was a very emotional read, but lovely to know that I could make such a positive impact without realising. After being nominated, I received a letter from the RCN informing me that I d made it through to the final eight nominees and that I had to attend an interview to evaluate my nomination. It was frightening being interviewed by an RCN panel of expert nurses, although they did try to make me feel as relaxed as possible. I never thought I d make it to the final, I just felt that my nomination wasn t creditable compared to those who have developed a nurse-led service, improved a service or were developing innovative ideas. It was completely overwhelming to then win the Patient Choice category. There are some fantastic nurses out there doing some extraordinary work and changing practice, and the RCN Nurse of the Year Awards are an amazing way to recognise the range and extent of work being implemented. Most importantly, it s great that the basic and fundamental skills of nursing, such as listening and patient support, are also being recognised. I believe that the following quote by motivational speaker, Leo Buscaglia, should be incorporated into basic nursing education and all those in a caring profession should be mindful of it: Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring all of which have the potential to turn a life around. The RCN awards were very glamorous, with delicious food (and wine!) in a lovely hotel. It was uplifting for such outstanding nursing care to be acknowledged at a time when the NHS and nursing seems to be getting a lot 3 Home Print

4 Could you be a UKONS ambassador? UKONS is an ambitious and rapidly growing organisation which seeks to offer a leading voice in all areas of cancer nursing in every region and country of the UK. In order to achieve this, it is increasingly evident that a larger and more developed organisational structure is needed. To this end, the ambassadorial role has been developed. Laura Croan with Frances Barrett, Respiratory Nurse Specialist, GSK, and Janice Smyth, RCN Northern Ireland Director, at the award ceremony of bad press. The evening was very bittersweet and extremely moving as it was still a raw and exceptionally difficult time for Patrick s Mum and Grandmother who attended, and I m very thankful to Simon Darby for coming to the awards as he has been an incredible support for all of Patrick s family. I ve worked in haematology since I qualified as a nurse nine years ago. It s a busy, highly pressured, emotionally demanding environment where nurses take on a lot of tasks in an area where you need to be calm and reassuring. They often have to juggle a variety of activities and yet find the time to spend with patients and their families to discuss diagnosis, treatment regimes and prognosis, while providing support and reassurance. Laura at work with the haematology team Staffing and shortages can be frustrating as nurses need plenty of time to support patients through their fears and concerns. Time constraints and the sheer volume of work can mean that a lot of these conversations seem to happen while the nurse is trying to finish other jobs. It is however a very rewarding area to work in and I m constantly amazed to see what people can overcome. I believe my award should be awarded to the whole haematology team as most of the people I work with have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and give 110% to their patient care. To find out more about the RCN awards, please click here. Any UKONS member can become an ambassador. A number of past Board members have already agreed to become ambassadors, but volunteers from all parts of the UK and representation from all types of cancer nursing are now being sought. The role of the ambassador is to engage directly with local members; promote cancer nursing nationally and internationally; assist and promote cancer nurses locally; raise awareness of the work of UKONS and recruit members; facilitate local events; help with grants, external conference applications and research projects; and maintain dialogue with local industry. The ambassadorial role will formally commence in January 2014 and there is an initial aim to recruit at least two ambassadors per region. For more information about this role and to apply for the position, please contact ukons@succinctcomms.com 4 Home Print

5 UKONS Annual Conference November 2013, London UKONS held its annual conference in the Grand Connaught Rooms in central London on 8 9 November The capacity audience were treated to a packed and varied programme which was designed around the three conference themes. These included self management, service care models and communicating difficult topics. A lively array of presentations was on offer, as well as a poster display and exhibition. The UKONS AGM was held during the proceedings and this, together with a packed exhibition hall and an evening reception, made for a very memorable occasion. Friday began with two key presentations which focused on the themes of cancer commissioning and service delivery in the new NHS. Sean Duffy, National Clinical Director for Cancer, NHS England, addressed the topic of cancer commissioning. This was particularly pertinent given the raft of organisational changes which the NHS, particularly in England, has experienced over the past year. He detailed the key projected outcomes for cancer in the years and discussed how these informed the commissioning process before summarising the recent changes and outlining how they might affect future commissioning. Dr Shelley Dolan, Chief Nurse, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Director, London Cancer Alliance (LCA), took a different perspective of the healthcare environment when she addressed service delivery. Whilst the focus was strongly on Shelley s direct Sean Duffy experience of London, this invigorating address had direct relevance for cancer nursing throughout the UK. Issues such as the viability and cohesiveness of networks are common to all, as is the desirability of localised services where possible. A strong focus was put on the patient experience and Shelley directly addressed those issues which affect every cancer nurse in every area of practice in every area of the UK. Notably, these are quality of care, waiting times, understaffing and poor communication. Shelley Dolan Liz Ridgway 5 Home Print

6 The UKONS AGM was held during the conference. This included input from the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS), represented by Board Member, Lena Sharp, who holds special responsibility for liaison with the UK and the International Society for Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC), represented by Andy Dimech. A more detailed report of the AGM is included later in this newsletter. The three conference themes were each developed in concurrent sessions by a number of presenters who were given the opportunity to showcase their practice. Some of these presenters were novices who demonstrated an extremely high standard of work which must bode well for the future of cancer nursing. Following this, there were several thought-provoking presentations on topics such as the impact of Eilis McCaughan psychosocial research on patient experience by Professor Jessica Corner from the University of Southampton, and the Connect programme for men with prostate cancer and their partners by Professor Eilis McCaughan from the University of Ulster. Lena Sharp then returned to discuss the importance of intra- and inter-personal communication in cancer care. Jessica Corner This is the first year that the conference has run over a weekend and everyone seemed to particularly enjoy the new format of the second day. This allowed delegates to choose one of three workshops delivered around the three conference themes. More detail on the workshops is contained overleaf. Finally, partnerships with a wide range of pharmaceutical and other healthcare companies made it possible to deliver such a successful event on a large scale, so many thanks to them for their continued support. Lena Sharp 6 Home Print

7 UKONS conference AGM A central part of each UKONS conference is the AGM. This year s meeting was the usual well attended and lively event which is indicative of the health of a progressive and forward-looking voice in cancer nursing. The meeting was jointly chaired by UKONS President, Natalie Doyle, and UKONS President Elect, Catherine Oakley, who began by announcing the recent death of former UKONS Board Member, Lynn Adams. Dr Cathy Hutchinson, Nurse Consultant at the Beatson Hospital in Glasgow, spoke about Lynn. UKONS Treasurer, Nikki Thomas, reported on the financial position of the society whilst Membership Secretary, Helen Barlow, noted the large surge in membership since last year s conference. Board Member, Richard Henry, then outlined the major changes that were being proposed to the constitution of UKONS. These primarily concerned an adjustment to the categories of UKONS membership, together with changes to the regulations regarding the tenure of UKONS Board membership. The UKONS Board had asked all members to consider these proposals in The meeting went on to consider the achievements of the previous 12 months. Notably, these included more effective communication with the growing UKONS membership (particularly via the website, the revitalised Catherine Oakley and Natalie Doyle Catherine Oakley newsletter and the Breaking News facility); increased educational initiatives (such as the Acute Oncology Roadshows and the Primary Care Toolkit); more extensive collaboration with organisations working in areas of mutual interest, including BOPA and the Higher Education Academy; an increase in publications such as the UKONS column in Cancer Nursing Practice and the Oncology Supplement of the British Journal of Nursing; and participation in a wide variety of groups including the National Chemotherapy Board and the Peer-Review National User Steering Group. Cathy Hutchinson remembers Lynn Adams 7 Home Print

8 organisations to this year s AGM. Lena Sharp discussed the work of EONS, whilst Andy Dimech addressed the benefits gained from the links between UKONS and ISNCC. The meeting concluded with a note of thanks to the UKONS membership for their unstinting support, the industry partners who make everything possible, and the invaluable contribution of the Secretariat, Succinct Healthcare Communications. Richard Henry ISNCC Board Member, Andy Dimech advance of the AGM and a vote was duly taken resulting in the acceptance of these changes. For many years UKONS has maintained close links with the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) and the International Society for Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC). It was particularly gratifying to welcome members from both EONS Board Member, Lena Sharp 8 Home Print

9 UKONS conference poster exhibition One of the most successful, interesting and yet understated features of this year s conference was the poster exhibition. A wide variety of posters were submitted from nurses across the UK illustrating the richness and diversity of cancer nursing. The standard of the posters was, as ever, very high both in terms of content and production. All posters were viewed by a team of UKONS judges and assessed for quality and depth of content, visual impact, relevance and appropriateness to cancer nursing, clarity of expression and standard of writing. The overall winning team was represented by Emma Scott from the Department of Postgraduate Research, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King s College London. Their poster was entitled Evaluating outcomes of a one-to-one telephone support service provided by volunteers to women with breast cancer. It explored the effect of telephone peer support provided by Breast Cancer Care volunteers on psychological wellbeing, quality of life, supportive care needs, knowledge of breast cancer, and experience of, and satisfaction with, care in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. It concluded that women who received telephone peer support reported improvements in psychological wellbeing over time compared to women who did not receive the intervention. Results pointed to the potential effectiveness of telephone peer support in supporting women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Winning poster: Evaluating outcomes of a one-to-one telephone support service provided by volunteers to women with breast cancer Runner up: Enhancing the role of carers in the outpatient chemotherapy setting: a participatory action research project There were two runner-up prizes, one went to a team represented by Vicky Tsianakas, Research Fellow, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King s College London, for their poster Enhancing the role of carers in the outpatient chemotherapy setting: a participatory action research project. This discussed the development and testing of an intervention for carers of patients receiving out-patient chemotherapy. This was the take-care support package and it was well evaluated by carers. Runner up: Can senior nurses develop and apply self-management communication approaches? 9 Home Print

10 After receiving the intervention, the carers reported a better understanding of symptoms and side effects and felt that more of their information needs were being met. Richard Towers from the School and Department of Psychological Support, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, was the other runner up for his poster entitled Can senior nurses develop and apply self-management communication approaches?. This case study set out to explore the impact of a two-day educational intervention in motivational interviewing and solution-focused communication approaches on participant senior cancer nurses. Results indicated improvements in communication supporting self efficacy and self management. Whilst participants did not develop a global therapeutic level of motivational interviewing, they did achieve some significant changes in the specific domains of a validated motivational interviewing measure. Participants valued the educational intervention and supervisory support however they also described a number of contextual barriers to applying the communication skills in practice. Several recommendations emerged from the study with participants making it clear that prolonged managerial and supervisory support is necessary to overcome extant practice barriers. UKONS would like to hear from cancer nurses across the UK If you have any news items, reports, conferences or anything that you re just proud of, why don t you let UKONS know and we may feature it in an upcoming UKONS newsletter. Contact UKONS at UKONS@succinctcomms.com and mark your correspondence Newsletter. Each of the prize winners were awarded a free place at next year s conference, whilst the first prize winner also received 200 to be put towards expenses for this event. Richard Towers receives his award from Natalie Doyle UKONS will support and advise any cancer nurse who would like to enter the poster competition in future conferences. UKONS particularly welcomes first-time presenters. For further information, please contact us via UKONS@succinctcomms.com 10 Home Print

11 UKONS conference workshops The second day of the conference was largely devoted to a series of workshops designed to highlight developments in cancer nursing whilst embracing the wide variety of contemporary practice. Self management The workshop on self management was chaired by Catherine Oakley, Chemotherapy Nurse Consultant at Guy s and St Thomas. The day opened with a group exercise and delegates were invited to share their experience of self management and identify those barriers and facilitators to this approach in their area of practice. The workshop was designed by Dr Lynn Calman, Senior Research Fellow, and Dr Deborah Fenlon and Dr Sue Duke, both Senior Lecturers, at the University of Southampton. The theoretical perspectives of self management were then addressed and a direct link was established with the survivorship pathway, as articulated by the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative. Risk-stratified pathways of care were additionally highlighted whilst the recovery package was discussed. This overview of practice models in cancer care led to an exploration of those issues regarding the introduction of self management into practice where the types of interventions that might be employed were introduced. The workshop was completed by an interactive skills rehearsal where conference delegates were introduced to self-management conversations. Service care models Service care models was the overarching theme of the workshop chaired by Helen Roe, Consultant Cancer Nurse, Cumberland Infirmary and North Cumbria University Hospital, and three speakers were invited to offer their differing perspectives on acute oncology. Philippa Jones, Macmillan Network Lead Chemotherapy Nurse, Greater Midlands, discussed the current provision of acute oncology services across the UK before focusing on those factors which promote the service. She then suggested means by which a culture of acute oncology might be supported and highlighted the work of the UKONS Acute Oncology Forum. Nicky Adams, Acute Oncology Nurse Consultant, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, developed this theme by discussing the impact of a nurse-led acute oncology service in a district general hospital, with a specific focus on the process which led to the establishment of this service. Illustrating a different perspective of acute oncology, Jeanette Ribton, Lead Chemotherapy Nurse at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals, discussed the development of a carcinoma from an unknown primary pathway. This was supplemented by case studies which highlighted the invaluable contribution of this service to practice. Communicating difficult topics This workshop was entirely devoted to the spiritual care of the cancer patient. For many nurses, this aspect of care represents a difficult and sensitive challenge and so the workshop was designed to help nurses identify, assess and address spiritual issues in clinical practice. Michelle Kenyon, Elimination of Leukaemia Fund (ELF) post-blood and Marrow Transplantation (BMT) Clinical Nurse Specialist at King s College Hospital, facilitated a lively and engrossing session featuring a number of speakers with formidable expertise in this field. This session commenced with group-work exercise led by Sara Lister, Head of Pastoral Care and Psychological Support at The Royal Marsden, where delegates were invited to reflect upon their understanding of the terms spirituality and spiritual care. 11 Home Print

12 Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) Wilf McSherry, Professor in Dignity of Care for Older People from Staffordshire University and the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, then discussed the role of healthcare professionals in the provision of spiritual care. He identified barriers that may prevent them from engaging with spiritual issues before exploring the skills required by healthcare professionals in the provision of effective spiritual care. Dr Bella Vivat, Research Lecturer at Brunel University, adopted a different perspective of spirituality when she addressed her experience of the EORTC-QLQ-SWB36 study which focuses on thoughts and feelings. She introduced a number of case studies which highlighted the importance of careful listening and how this can contribute to effective care. Finally, Sara Lister returned to discuss the role of the nurse in identifying, understanding and addressing spiritual resilience with a strong focus on the maintenance of hope. All three main speakers then returned to the podium for a panel discussion which consolidated the learning emanating from a highly productive workshop. Many cancer patients will lose their hair as a result of their disease and/or its treatment. For many, this will be accompanied by the loss of eyelashes and eyebrows and other skin-related issues. This can be particularly distressing and has the potential to aggravate significant psychological morbidity. LGFB is a charity which provides women cancer patients with advice and support on hair loss and skin changes. It offers free skincare and make-up workshops, hosted by volunteer beauty consultants, in 73 hospitals and cancer support centres throughout the UK. In a recent survey undertaken by Macmillan Cancer Support, 81% of women reported that the visible effects of their treatment had a negative impact on their confidence, and 65% said that they didn t know how to disguise these effects women participated in this study (65% had breast cancer). 98% of them said that it was a positive experience spending time with women in the same situation, whilst a similar 97% felt supported by being in a group environment. 85% said they would use all the make-up hints, tips and learning in the future and 97% felt that confidence and strengthened self esteem helped towards a positive outlook during treatment Almost half the women were contacted later to assess the longer term benefits on confidence. At the end of the initial workshops, 97% of women said their confidence had increased, and patient confidence levels were still at 96% 3 4 months later. In a special Facing cancer with confidence event at Harvey Nichols, attended by nearly 100 key stakeholders and supporters, Natalie Doyle, Nurse Consultant at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and President of UKONS, acknowledged the importance of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. She also highlighted the very real and damaging psychosocial visible issues that affect women during and after their treatment. LGFB have developed an ambitious 5-year plan in which they hope to engage with 50% of newly diagnosed women and teenagers by They are introducing a new masterclass format together with online teaching sessions, increasing core workshop locations and patient forums. This work will be supported by a new mobile service which will offer information and advice to women with cancer, raise awareness of the psychological impact of the disease and enable fundraising opportunities. Further information about LGFB is available on the website, which can be accessed here. 12 Home Print

13 The European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) Lifetime Achievement Award Congratulations to The Royal Marsden s Chief Nurse and UKONS Member, Dr Shelley Dolan, on receiving the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 European Cancer Congress in Amsterdam at the end of September. This award is granted by the Executive Board of EONS and marks the outstanding personal and professional contribution made by Shelley to the field of oncology nursing. The award honours individuals who have acted as inspirational leaders and whose achievements contribute to EONS or cancer nursing generally. Shelley qualified as a nurse in 1980 and worked in the specialist cancer ITU at The Royal Marsden Hospital. Here, she took up post as a Nurse Consultant in Critical Care and was instrumental in the design of the largest critical care unit for cancer patients in the UK. She was also involved in the London Post-Doctoral Cancer Research Forum and has published and lectured widely on the acute and critical care of cancer patients and the leadership of cancer services. Finally, in June 2007, Shelley was appointed to the role of Chief Nurse at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. Shelley s contribution and dedication to the development of cancer nursing practice spans local, national, European and international spheres. She was a Board Member of EONS and has contributed to many educational initiatives from EONS. She was awarded the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) Award of Merit for ITU Nursing (2002) and the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Prize for European Haematology Nursing. Shelley is also a past Board Member of the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC). She developed the first clinical leadership course for cancer nurses in South Africa and was awarded the Serbian People s Medal for Cancer Nursing (2006). Currently, Shelley is Clinical Director within the London Cancer Alliance (LCA) and is playing a key part in transforming cancer services in London and the wider UK within the NHS. Shelley Dolan To read more about The European Cancer Congress 2013, please click here. 13 Home Print

14 UKONS Board Members The UKONS Board is delighted to welcome four new Board Members Carole Farrell Carole has worked in cancer nursing for 25 years. She has been variously employed as a Research Sister, Breast Care Nurse Specialist and Nurse Clinician (Advanced Nurse Practitioner), and has been involved in setting up nurse-led clinics, including chemotherapy, adjuvant Herceptin and follow-up clinics. She has recently completed her PhD, which focused on nurse-led chemotherapy clinics, and is currently working at the University of Manchester. Wendy Anderson Wendy is a Macmillan Nurse Consultant at a large cancer centre in the North East of England. She has worked in cancer care, particularly chemotherapy, for over 20 years. Her key areas of interest include ensuring that nurses are skilled and confident to deliver chemotherapy and supportive interventions, developing nurse-led services and developing the leadership potential of all nurses within cancer care. Gillian Knight Gillian is currently on secondment from her substantive post as Education and Development Lead Nurse for Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. She is currently working with the South Wales Cancer Network to develop a strategy for chemotherapy and acute oncology in South Wales. She is an experienced nurse leader with clinical and management experience in acute oncology and palliative care services across Wales. Lallita Carballo Lallita is Macmillan Clinical Lead for Supportive Cancer Care at University College London Hospital, having worked as the Nurse Director for the North London Cancer Network for 10 years. She previously worked in a variety of posts including clinical practice, research and management. She is currently undertaking a multi-centre study into the role of the clinical nurse specialist in multidisciplinary teams, as part of a PhD. 14 Home Print

15 Forthcoming events British Psychosocial Oncology Society Annual Conference February 2014 Preston, UK Living with Sexuality and Cancer Special Focus Prostate Cancer 28 February 2014 Manchester, UK The Tenth Palliative Care Congress March 2014 harrogate, UK Quality and Safety in Healthcare April 2014 Paris, France For details of forthcoming events, breaking news and useful tools and links, please visit the UKONS website: UKONS conference photos 15 Home Print

16 The UKONS Board Natalie Doyle, President and Nurse Consultant, Living With and Beyond Cancer, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London. Catherine Oakley, President Elect and Chemotherapy Nurse Consultant, Guy s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust. Cheryl Vidall, Past President, Oncology Services Development Manager, Alcura. Helen Roe, Nurse Consultant, Cumberland Infirmary. Nikki Thomas, Patient Experience Manager, NHS England, Devon and Cornwall Area Team. Elaine Lennan, Nurse Consultant, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. Richard Henry, Lecturer, Queen s University, Belfast. Mhairi Simpson, Nurse Consultant, Cancer Care, NHS Lanarkshire. Karen Verrill, Centre Head Newcastle, Maggie s Cancer Caring Centres. Carole Farrell, Nurse Clinician, University of Manchester. Wendy Anderson, Macmillan Nurse Consultant, James Cook University Hospital, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Corporate members We would like to thank our partners and corporate members* for their continued support. Amgen Astellas Boehringer Ingelheim CareFusion Celgene Dignitana Eisai GlaxoSmithKline Healthcare at Home Hospira Lilly Medac Mölnlycke Mosaic Pharma Norgine Pierre Fabre Roche Syner-Med Gillian Knight, Development Lead Nurse, Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff. Lallita Carballo, Macmillian Clinical Lead, Supportive Cancer Care, University College London Hospital. *Partners and Corporate members correct at time of issue. 16 Home Print