NEW DEVELOPMENTS
SPECIAL BELL HELPS CHILDREN RING IN A NEW CHAPTER A new addition to the Amazon Children’s Ward at Peterborough City Hospital has created lots of excitement amongst some of the sickest patients who have been receiving treatment for childhood cancers. An ‘end of treatment bell’ has been installed, so that children who have reached the end of their cancer treatment plan can celebrate with a ring on the bell. “The idea behind these bells is similar to the beads of courage that we also use here on the ward,” says Zoe Wilkinson, Lead Play Specialist. “Children with cancer are unbelievably brave and they deal with an awful lot of side effects and symptoms from both their illnesses and their treatments. Anything we can do to encourage their strength and give them support, is incredible – and these bells do just that.” The idea to bring one to PCH first arose from the parent of a patient being treated on both Amazon ward and in Cambridge. “I’ve seen these bells at other hospitals and the smile and joy they bring to a child’s face, and their families, when they finally get to ring them and close the door on such a horrible chapter, is just wonderful,” says Joanne Devaney, whose son Lucas is battling Leukaemia and specifically requested to signal the end of his treatment on Amazon ward. The bell is supplied by End of Bell Treatment Bells UK, a US based charity, set up by the parents whose young daughter was going through cancer treatment. “The bell is a symbol of hope for families who find
Zoe Wilkinson, Lead Play Specialist, right, with Play Team member Rosemary Hargrave
themselves on this horrendous journey, “ says Emma Payton, Founder of End of Bell Treatment UK. “Some families’ treatment last for years, some for months, and each path is unique to them. We wanted to offer them something at the end, something to say YES,
WE DID IT! Ring it loud, and ring it proud!” The Amazon ward bell is the 76th to be installed in a UK hospital and has been sponsored by a couple in Oklahoma, who opted to purchase the bell instead of exchanging Christmas gifts last year.
Improving our support for cancer patients The Acute Oncology Team has been providing a 7-day 9-5pm service since January last year and have grown from a one person to a team of 5, providing support for both oncology and haematology inpatients and patients attending the oncology outpatient clinic and day unit. The team includes Dr Ayers, Medical Oncology Consultant , Sue Barham, Lead Cancer Nurse, Paula-Joanne Bloodworth, Acute Oncology clinical nurse specialist; Jayne Nimmo, Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse
Specialist, Paula Fulcher, Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Sabeeha Munir, Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist. Each day there are approximately 60-80 patients in the Trust who have a cancer diagnosis, with the team supporting 10-20 patients who are having treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This includes giving advice on the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, support, checking pathways and speeding up test results.
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