All specialist cancer nurses at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust are due for retirement in the next five years, research has revealed.
A recent study by Macmillan Cancer Support has uncovered that almost 4,000 additional specialist cancer nurses will be needed across the UK by 2030 to address the current shortfall.
After identifying that all clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) across the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) were due for retirement in the next five years, the Macmillan team based at West Suffolk Hospital set to tackling this future workforce shortfall.
Karen McKinnon, WSFT's lead cancer nurse, and her team have created an 18-month programme that develops nurses who want to progress to CNS positions.
Two nurses have already completed the 18-month pathway and a further two are due to start the course in spring.
The cancer nurse succession planning team at West Suffolk Hospital. Left to right: Gail Porter, Sam Hobson, Karen McKinnon, Lisa Miller and Kimberly Armstrong. Credit: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. (Image: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust)
Due to this innovative work, the team won the 'Innovation Excellence Award' at the Macmillan Professionals Excellence Awards in November 2022.
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