Friends of ANCHOR - Spotlight 11 by Friends of ANCHOR

FREE - PLEASE TAKE YOUR SINGLE-USE COPY HOME WITH YOU ISSUE 11 / 2020

CANCER & HAEMATOLOGY TREATMENT DURING CORONAVIRUS: HOW FRIENDS OF ANCHOR CAN SUPPORT YOU Although COVID-19 restrictions are keeping us apart from the usual hospital setting at present, we want to assure you that Friends of ANCHOR’s wellbeing support is just as close by, albeit in a virtual capacity.

CLOSE TO YOU… IN COMMUNITY

CLOSE TO YOU… IN SERVICE

CLOSE TO YOU… IN A PRACTICAL WAY

Friends of ANCHOR Patient Community

Mindfulness Course

Postal Provisions Provisions to help combat the side-effects of treatment are now freely available for direct delivery to your door.

A supportive, private platform for you to connect with fellow patients. Search ‘Friends of ANCHOR Patient Community’ on Facebook to join.

Brew + Blether

A virtual get-together, hosted by our wellbeing team every Monday and Thursday on Zoom.

A fully-funded course to equip patients with the tools and practices to alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety. The 8-week course is free and available to access from the comfort of home.

Turn to page 6 for more information on what we can offer.

Hair Loss Support Service

Free appointments with our hairdresser, who’s on hand to guide you through the unknowns of hair loss, whether that’s preparing for a wig, advice on scalp care or tips on how to style natural hair when it starts growing back in.

Podiatry Service

An aerial clinic for ANCHOR outpatients, offering assessment, treatment if required, and education to support foot care needs.

For up-to-the-minute information on the direct support that is freely and readily available for patients, please visit: friendsofanchor.org/ index.php/patient-area To access any of the support mentioned above, please email wellbeing@friendsofanchor.org.

MARCH 23 – JULY

IN NUMBERS HOW WE’VE SUPPORTED PATIENTS AND STAFF THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC Transforming treatment

£124,756.36

Staff support

in approved equipment

4,623

staff lunches

£59.890.23

Fundraising

on ANCHOR staffing commitments

active ‘lockdown fundraisers’

Patient support Home from Home

1,756 425 50

108 monthly donors

miles covered nights of accommodation patients supported

650

took part in Going the Distance

102 68 101

patients in our virtual community weekly attendees for our mindfulness course total attendees for our weekly Brew + Blether

new monthly donor sign-ups during the pandemic

www.friendsofanchor.org

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

PATIENT SUPPORT

HEAR FROM PATIENTS DIRECT

GOING THE DISTANCE

OUR LIFELINE SERVICE

REVOLUTIONISING TREATMENT

IN FOCUS

A DAY IN THE LIFE: WARD ASSISTANTS

LESLEY-ANNE YEATS

ANCHOR OUTPATIENT & DAY TREATMENT DEPARTMENT

SUPPORTING VITAL COVID-19 RESEARCH

BRINGING THE GREAT OUTDOORS, IN

PATIENT PERSPECTIVE

UNDER THE LENS

IN FOCUS

NICOLA REDGWELL

COURAGE AND BRAVE

UP CLOSE

Spotlight Issue 11 / 2020

FUNDRAISING

HOME FROM HOME

VIRTUAL CELEBRATION

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

JIM MILNE

HELLO AND WELCOME TO EDITION 11 OF SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE

This year has looked very different to how any of us could have foreseen 2020, but throughout this time we have resolved to remain fully committed to ANCHOR patients and staff in supporting them wherever the need lies, with a good measure of adaptability in there too. It’s been a privilege to continue working alongside our local NHS during this time. The need for cancer and haematology care is ever present, and patients still require life-saving treatment. I commend the excellent teams who have shown up for their patients every day and continued to work day in, day out, to deliver the best care possible. You might notice this is a bumper edition – we have lots to update you on! I hope you will enjoy reading about what has been achieved thanks to your support. Our wellbeing services have adapted to this new virtual world we’re

living in to ensure we are still delivering crucial support to patients, and the past five months have seen the growth and development of some of these while others, such as our much-loved massage and nail treatments, remain temporarily on hold. We’re also in the midst of bolstering our wellbeing support for ANCHOR Unit staff, reintroducing guided yoga sessions and moving forward with a new mindfulness programme to help equip them with tools and practices designed to support them at work and in their daily lives. During the local peak, we provided nutritious lunches for staff, removing some of the weekly-shopping stress at a time when navigating the supermarkets felt like it never has before. Our commitment to funding equipment has continued, and we’re playing our part towards funding a vital Covid-19 research study right here on our doorstep.

You’ll also read about our recent virtual fundraising efforts. With a small handful of online campaigns and continued support from our donors, we’ve been able to retain our annual income at a level of 40%. At a time when charities everywhere are feeling the effects of the pandemic, I give my sincerest thanks to you, our supporters. All we have been able to achieve so far this year is thanks to your generosity in supporting the cause in any way you can. Thank you! I’m also proud of the sheer commitment the Friends of ANCHOR team has shown, with undeterred enthusiasm, adaptability and resilience to continue to do the best they can by patients, staff and donors. Until next time, my very best wishes to all our readers during this testing season.

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PATIENT SUPPORT

VIRTUAL AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT ALONGSIDE OUR VIRTUAL SUPPORT, WE CONTINUE TO ADAPT AND ADD TO OUR WELLBEING PROVISIONS AND SERVICES.

Brew and Blether regular Rena Grant shared a few words about what drew her into the weekly sessions: “Being a new patient, the sessions have been a massive benefit to me; they’re a great place to have a good old natter, share experiences and ask questions. We talk about gardening, pets, lockdown life – anything really. We have laughed and cried and it’s good to chat with people who truly understand how you feel. I would recommend joining to anyone who is looking for that sort of support.”

Gillian Hadden recently completed our first eight-week mindfulness course. “I had used mindfulness in the past, so when the lockdown came into place and my anxieties reemerged, I knew that signing up to this course would help. It was such a valuable learning curve and with every session I learned new techniques that I can use in the hospital setting or even in daily life for those anxieties that can affect us.”

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Wellbeing provisions Our wellbeing provisions continue to be available directly to patients upon their visit to the hospital. Patients who require items sent to their home can use our Postal Provisions service, which we launched at the beginning of the UK lockdown. Anti-sickness aids Sea bands and Gin-Gins, an allnatural ginger sweet

Hair and scalp care Soothing conditioner, head coverings and wig care packs

Medical aids Digital thermometers, picc line covers and drain bags

WORKING TOGETHER

CORPORATE PARTNERS

THE WORKING WORLD LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT IN 2020 AND DURING THIS UNUSUAL YEAR, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF LOCAL BUSINESSES

ANM Group

Taylors Industrial Services

Odfjell Drilling

North-east farmers’ cooperative ANM Group celebrated their 30th anniversary with a special gala dinner attended by around 430 people. The organisation chose to use the occasion as a fundraiser for Friends of ANCHOR, and incredibly, the sum raised on the night amounted to over £63,000, with funds raised by an auction and heads and tails game, which formed part of the evening’s entertainment.

This year, Taylors Industrial Services made a £10,000 donation in recognition of the long service of one of their employees, Rose Beaton. Rose has been with the company since its beginnings in 1962, working with four family generations. In lieu of a long-service gift, Rose chose a charitable donation in memory of her daughter Elaine, who was part of the extended Taylors family. Elaine passed away in December following a diagnosis of breast cancer, and her loss was felt by many at the firm.

A new sign-up for 2020, the team at Odfjell Drilling selected Friends of ANCHOR as their chosen charity in the spring, just as the reactions to the pandemic were gathering pace in the UK.

Our chairman Jim Milne was delighted to be a guest and said it was “quite something” to witness the generosity in the room on the evening. Our heartfelt thanks go to all at ANM Group for their continued support throughout the years, including the facilitation of regular donations to the charity following their weekly livestock auctions.

The generous donation of £10,000 has since been used to fund the first 836 wig care packs, a new wellbeing provision for patients. Total donated: £10,000

The firm kickstarted its support in a fantastically functional way, to help us practically throughout this period, with a donation of much-needed PPE stock for our Home from Home service (see page 8). Their supply of filtration face masks, face visors and body suits arrived at the perfect time to ensure we could get the service up and running, while Senior Planner Rowena Beaton, and Vice President UK GBS & Administration Diane Stephen also took part in Going the Distance. Total donated: Essential PPE

Total raised: £63,579.06

To join us as a corporate partner, email info@friendsofanchor.org. www.friendsofanchor.org

HOME FROM HOME

CHARITY PROVIDES INTERIM ‘HOME FROM HOME’ FOR PATIENTS DURING PANDEMIC TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORT SERVICE PROVIDES A LIFELINE FOR PATIENTS FROM FURTHER AFIELD

The Covid-19 pandemic brought many services to a grinding halt throughout the region. When one such crucial resource was affected, NHS Grampian called on the support of Friends of ANCHOR. Our temporary service, ‘Home from Home’, provided vital accommodation and transport for patients who needed to travel to Aberdeen for essential treatment. The initiative was put in place in light of the temporary closure of CLAN Haven. The service was predominantly used by the radiotherapy department at ARI, which provides courses of treatment that can involve daily radiotherapy for up to six weeks at a time. Nicola Redgwell, Radiotherapy Manager, said: “For patients who live in Orkney, Shetland, Moray or the further reaches of Aberdeenshire, the pandemic and resulting restrictions posed a real problem for getting to ARI for essential appointments.

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“Our interim solution during CLAN Haven’s closure aimed to remove some of the understandable anxiety that patients may have felt, associated with travelling and being far from home while attending ARI for non-elective treatment or surgery. The ‘Home from Home’ service helped alleviate that and we are very grateful for donors’ support of Friends of ANCHOR, which enabled this resource to run and be sustained for the duration of time it was needed.”

lifeline. I had to spend a number of weeks in Aberdeen, during the height of the pandemic, and without this support, it simply wouldn’t have been possible.

The service ran from May to July, serving patients from Orkney, Shetland, Moray and the further reaches of Grampian. More than 1,000 miles of patient transport was covered, and over 200 nights of accommodation, both of which were jointly funded by the charity and NHS.

“I don’t have any family or friends in Aberdeen, so because of the lockdown, I had to stay in the city alone for the whole month while I had treatment. Friends of ANCHOR made me feel so well looked after and thus, much more safe and secure. It was truly comforting during a very complicated time. It was also a relief to my family back home, knowing there are people ready to help with whatever was needed. To the team who helped me, I just want to say a huge thank you.”

ANCHOR Unit patient and mum-of-one Anna Lidderdale was one of the first patients to use the service. Anna, who lives in Orkney with her husband and young son, said: “It was an absolute

“The name ‘Home from Home’ really rang true for me, there was nothing I couldn’t ask for, and nothing was too much trouble. The accommodation was very comfortable, and the team was on standby at all times for myself and the other patients.

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Photo: University of Aberdeen

PATIENT PERSPECTIVE

LESLEY-ANNE’S STORY LESLEY ANNE SHARES HOW SUPPORT THROUGHOUT LOCKDOWN HELPED BRING A SENSE OF CALM AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT

Can you share a little with us about the second diagnosis you received this year? I finished my treatment for breast cancer in 2012 and a year later modelled in the very first Courage on the Catwalk. Life has been busy and full ever since being Mum and a few years ago joining Aberdeen Performing Arts as their Marketing Executive. A dizzy spell at Christmas is where it all started for me this time round. Scans showed a brain tumour, which was removed in January. No sooner had we found out it was benign, further scans detected a secondary breast cancer in my rib – unrelated to the brain tumour but only detected because of it. The tumour on my rib was isolated, and we were investigating having it removed when another scan identified some spots on my liver showing the cancer had spread there. This was a game-changer and meant the secondary cancer could not be cured and marked the start of chemotherapy. I could have been much further down the line before my cancer was found and for that I count myself lucky. It was caught early and Covid-19 didn’t really slow anything down for me. I’m hugely

grateful that has been the case and I’m indebted to the resilience of the clinical teams who have kept everything going throughout all this. You started treatment just as UK lockdown began. How did our support help? To be honest, the worst part for me this time round has been losing my hair. It started to fall out after my very first chemo and I really wasn’t ready for that. I’m not a vain person but the hair loss brought me right back to my first diagnosis, something I’d managed to block out after all these years, so it felt like it was happening for the first time and I had no idea where to turn. When I saw the charity was running the hair loss support clinic I got in touch and was soon sorted with the perfect wig and virtual support. How have you kept yourself strong mentally while going through treatment during a global pandemic? I think I have been pretty resolute at keeping my attitude positive and strong. No one wants to be in this situation – cancer alone is scary enough, let alone going through it at a time like this. The mindfulness course from the charity has been hugely valuable. I’m a real over-

thinker and my mind races, so the weekly sessions with the professional tutor have reined those thoughts in and helped ease my anxiety. It really did come along at the right time for me. What is your message for donors? The funding from the charity is vital, so to know donors are out there helping sustain that amazing work is incredible, even more so now the usual fundraising activities have been cut back due to Covid-19. Thank-you! What are you most looking forward to when we safely come out the other side of this pandemic? Just like the effect a cancer diagnosis can have; lockdown brings a shift in attitude and life perspective. I think everyone is feeling that way right now, and I’m looking forward to us all seizing every opportunity when that chance comes again. I can’t wait to travel and see new places with my husband Stuart and the girls. Theatre is a huge part of my life and I’d like to be with the girls for their first Broadway experience and see lots more shows in London! I’m also looking forward to getting back to work. To see a show again at HMT – what a day that will be!

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UNDER THE LENS

FUNDING CRUCIAL COVID-19 RESEARCH CHARITY RE-ALLOCATES FUNDS FOR PILOT STUDY

Due to the pandemic, much of the nonCovid-related research taking place in labs across the country was suspended this summer. Among those projects was a £15,000 study funded by Friends of ANCHOR, led by Dr Nicola Mutch. Dr Mutch and her team aimed to develop a new tool to monitor the breakdown of blood clots within the body – but before early research could begin, the pandemic reached threat level and the study was halted. However, thanks to Dr Mutch’s skill set in coagulation and fibrinolysis, she and her team are well placed to aid the global effort for research into Covid-19. With the current demand for scientific data on the disease, Friends of ANCHOR was approached to consider the reallocation of its research funds, and made the decision to redirect the £15,000 grant towards this crucial Covid-19 study. The ensuing project was funded by a £96,652 grant from the NHS Grampian Endowment Fund, with Friends of ANCHOR’s contribution bringing the total funding to over £110,000.

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Professor Henry Watson, committee member and consultant haematologist, established Friends of ANCHOR’s pilot research funding stream in 2010. To date, the research arm of the charity has funded 66 studies into cancer and haematology conditions, to the tune of more than £639,000. This latest project broadens our research horizons, in a year of unprecedented medical challenges. Professor Watson said: “Dr Mutch’s lab has expertise in measuring many of the functions of blood cells, proteins and substances produced by epithelial cells; all of which are key areas for consideration in Covid-19 research. “We decided that we should look at these functions and behaviours in relation to the severity of Covid-19 infection in a large group of patients, to give us more insight to the mechanisms of the disease and so offer options on how to manage patients.” Sharing her own message of thanks to the donors whose generosity allowed this study to be part-funded by Friends of ANCHOR, Dr Mutch said: “We are using this latest funding to investigate the abnormal blood clotting present in

Covid-19 patients. Patients who develop more severe symptoms are more prone to developing blood clots and deposits of fibrin, the scaffold of blood clots, in the lung. This exacerbates the conditions and is associated with a poorer outcome. “We aim to identify a biomarker which could identify those most at risk of these serious symptoms. The funding from Friends of ANCHOR will allow us to investigate how levels of potential biomarkers change over time in patients within ICU. “These studies could provide vital information to guide treatment of these patients and allow earlier interventions to lessen the severity of the disease and improve outcome.” In a usual year, the charity commits up to £100,000 to fund multiple pilot research projects, helping to grow the foundations of our knowledge of cancer and diseases of the blood, as well as producing initial data and results to attract large-scale research funding. All research funded by the charity takes place in the city, either within the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University or NHS Grampian.

www.friendsofanchor.org

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UP CLOSE

NICOLA REDGWELL AS RADIOTHERAPY MANAGER AT ARI, NICOLA OVERSEES A DEPARTMENT THAT TREATS OVER 100 PATIENTS DAILY

How long have you worked in the ANCHOR Unit, and what motivated you to go into oncology care? I qualified as a therapy radiographer in 1990 and worked at the Royal Marsden in London before moving to the States to work at Utah University Hospital. It was there that I found a love of adventuring and mountains which, ultimately, are what brought me to Aberdeen in 1997. I’ve been in my current role as Radiotherapy Manager since 2004. The department is the ‘R’ in ANCHOR! What has the charity’s support looked like for the radiotherapy department over the years? The support from Friends of ANCHOR has been all-encompassing. The charity’s investments in leading medical equipment (some of which, we have been the first in Scotland to have) allow us to continually advance how we plan and deliver treatment for patients. Equally as important are the wellbeing services and provisions that are fully funded for our patients with podiatry, minimassages, coffee mornings, TVs, a coffee machine in the waiting area, and more. The reach also extends to looking after the staff, with weekly funded yoga sessions pre-lockdown which are about to recommence again for us virtually. The nutritious lunches that were switched on

for the staff at the start of the pandemic were a lifesaver when shopping was difficult and all the shelves were empty. Throughout this challenging year, how has your team adapted to continue delivering excellent care? The important thing to say is that radiotherapy never stopped throughout the pandemic, being a critical cancer service. Only patients with specific shielding requirements were delayed, where it was safe to do so. Our service had to swiftly adapt, in line with the rapidly changing guidance. We underwent many significant changes which have been challenging but we are coming out of it stronger; the staff here are just amazing! As a team, we also lean on the energy and enthusiasm from Friends of ANCHOR, especially during this pandemic. It has meant the world to me knowing the charity’s constant support is there and I’m sure the same is true for the rest of my staff. Which piece of charity funding has stood out for you most during the pandemic? We have had Friends of ANCHOR’s invaluable support throughout the pandemic, doing whatever they can to help. Travel has been difficult for anyone thanks to the restrictions that were brought into place, but even more so for our patients

attending from the Islands and far reaches of the North-east. When CLAN Haven was temporarily closed, Friends of ANCHOR very quickly swung into action to bridge the gap when I asked for their help, setting up a complete ‘Home from Home’ service, jointly funded with NHS Grampian. It was a relief to know our patients were safe and being so well looked after; especially when patient anxiety was inevitably heightened. What is your message for those who continue to support the charity? Please don’t stop your heartfelt, generous support! It’s been a difficult time for everyone, with charities understandably now struggling to bring in the essential funds needed. We’re very much with you in radiotherapy, having completed ‘Going the Distance’ in June. 32 of us from the department got involved as team ‘Radiotherapy Radicals’. We logged more than 8,000 miles and raised over £4,000. We were keen to fundraise along the way because we so clearly see the benefits in our NHS department every day from the charity’s funding, always putting our patients first. From all of us in the radiotherapy department, a very big thank-you!

www.friendsofanchor.org

LOCKDOWN FUNDRAISING

AROUND THE WORLD IN 30 DAYS…

30 days

HUNDREDS GO THE DISTANCE FOR FRIENDS OF ANCHOR, CLOCKING UP NEARLY 100,000 MILES AND RAISING OVER £46,000

The UK lockdown halted fundraising events across the country this summer, but creativity and commitment came to the fore during our virtual mileage challenge in June.

international, with people getting involved from Switzerland, Spain, Texas, Dubai, Dublin and Iraq – where offshore worker Bruce Bain clocked up miles from the on-site gym.

More than 650 people took part in Going the Distance, which we launched in the hope of covering the 2,600 miles that encircle the North-east of Scotland, the expanse our support reaches for cancer and haematology patients.

The full total raised, through fundraising and personal donations from those taking part, was an incredible £46,700.75

By the end of the month, our challengers managed to clock up more than 95,100 miles – lapping the original target 36 times – equivalent to travelling around the world over threeand-three-quarter times. Some real creativity went into those miles, with several people taking part while shielding, doing laps of their garden or getting out at the crack of dawn so as not to see a soul. One of our participants even blinged up her garage to look like a club while she ran on her treadmill. Of the hundreds who took part were Njoror’s Northern Wanderers from Shetland, who covered the most Northerly miles. The challenge went 16

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Nicola Scott took part with her husband Colin and teenage son Jack, along with their neighbours and close friends, the Garrioch family. The team covered more than 1,400 miles, raising more than £4,100 in the process. Nicola recently completed her own treatment within the ANCHOR Unit, having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and previously undergone chemotherapy. Her treatment in the Unit included surgery, a 9-day inpatient stay and radiotherapy, which she completed at the end of May, just before the challenge started. Nicola said: “It was a year ago in June that I got the devastating news I had breast cancer. It certainly has been a year of many ups and downs and I can 100% say that I could not have done it without

the support of the ANCHOR Unit. The staff of this special unit on many occasions turned my downs into ups. “I always knew that the ANCHOR Unit and Friends of ANCHOR were an amazing thing to have on our doorstep in Aberdeen, but it’s not until you use the services that you realise just how much all the little things mean; from getting an ice lolly delivery from the wellbeing team in the afternoon to getting my feet sorted by their podiatrist when the chemo had taken its toll.

“As a family, this challenge really kept us going and gave us an extra lockdown focus at a time when I would have otherwise been celebrating the end of treatment.” Feedback has shown what a boost the campaign brought to all those who took part, and as we go to print, Going the Distance 2.0, is in full swing for September. For full details and to take part, visit the ‘events’ section on our website at friendsofanchor.org

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IN FOCUS

STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY ENSURES BUSINESS AS USUAL DURING THE PANDEMIC EQUIPMENT FUNDED BY THE CHARITY BECOMES A VITAL TOOL DURING THE COVID-19 SEASON AND IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN SCOTLAND

New technology funded in anticipation of the Covid-19 peak in the North-east has proved to be an essential tool for surgeons. The charity fast-tracked £27,135 of funding for the breast unit, where clinicians identified the benefits of a relatively new method of tumour localisation using radiofrequency tags and detector probes. The equipment is used to aid the surgeon in finding nonpalpable tumours in patients who opt to have breast conservation surgery – an operation that retains as much breast tissue as possible. The tags are implanted into the breast and detected with a sensor to allow for more accurate surgery. The radio waves stay active for 90 days, meaning they can be placed well in advance of surgery dates, giving more flexibility in theatre planning when compared to the alternative method which involves the placement of a metal

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‘guide wire’ which is inserted on the morning of the operation. Data from the first seven weeks of the UK lockdown showed that 50% of relevant surgeries were able to go ahead when they would otherwise have been cancelled. Consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon Yazan Masannat and Dr Gerald Lip, consultant radiologist and clinical director for the North East Scotland Breast Screening Programme at ARI, applied for the funding. Mr Masannat said: “Under the restrictions brought into place due to Covid-19, we simply wouldn’t have been able to carry out the existing localisation method for all the patients on the theatre list especially the ones pencilled for surgery at BMI Albyn. “Looking at the data, we know that 50% of the relevant surgeries would

have been postponed, but thanks to the support of Friends of ANCHOR we were able to proceed as planned using the breast tags which allow for real flexibility when planning our theatre lists. “Currently in NHS Grampian, there are over 450 new breast cancer patients per year, with more than 200 operations requiring some method of localization. Thanks to the charity’s funding, we’re the first NHS body in Scotland to be performing surgery in this way, and we’re one of the first sites in the UK.” Longer term, the equipment will potentially benefit patients at Shetland’s Gilbert Bain Hospital and at Stracathro Hospital where some breast surgery is performed. With the tags implanted in Aberdeen in advance, operations could be carried out closer to home on a daycase basis.

www.friendsofanchor.org

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FRIENDLY FACES

MEET THE WARD ASSISTANTS PROVIDING FULLY-FUNDED, NON-CLINICAL SUPPORT, ALISHA, CATHERINE AND HEATHER WORK IN THE ANCHOR OUTPATIENT & DAY TREATMENT DEPARTMENT

What is a typical day like for you, and how have you found working during the pandemic? Catherine: No two days are the same, as we respond to the individual needs of patients. Tasks like ordering lunches and helping distribute meals are standard, but we also help the nursing teams, completing essential admin and keeping on top of stock. Through the haematology team, I help coordinate practical support for a group of home therapy patients who administer their own medicine in the comfort of their home, using tools provided by the NHS and a treatment tray funded by the charity. Although the process is currently on pause due to the pandemic, another rewarding part of my role is my involvement with arranging hotel accommodation and travel for patients who require treatment at other hospitals. Alisha: We support the nursing teams by taking on some of the non-medical duties, providing support in any way we can from getting cups of tea to prepping the treatment rooms and having a friendly chat with patients. Now more than ever, I’ve noticed that having ward assistants on hand has helped provide assurance and support to patients

who have had additional concerns throughout such an unusual time. Heather: Busy and enjoyable are the words that spring to mind for me. Regardless of a pandemic, our priority is our patients and the whole team has continued to work hard to give the best possible care. What is your favourite part of your job? Heather: Providing simple things like a cosy blanket or cuppa to help make time in the Unit a bit easier for patients. After being a midwife for 36 years it is wonderful to see how the non-clinical support can make such a big difference. These past two years with Friends of ANCHOR have really highlighted the positive impact this has on patient experience and comfort. Catherine: Providing face-to-face support is what really motivated me to apply for the role just over three years ago and is still my most-loved part of the job.

wellbeing provisions, which are all funded by the charity, make a meaningful impact. Working alongside NHS Grampian, the charity goes above and beyond to bring helpful additions for patients. Catherine: From funding the chairs used during treatment to a pack of tissues, there are lots of little things that come together to make the patients feel comfortable. Heather: One of the most visible means of support is the wellbeing team, who offer complimentary massages, nail care, podiatry and hair and wig styling. While this has temporarily been pulled from the hospital during the pandemic, the team continues to support patients virtually and I see how this has helped many. The charity is always focused on being reactive to the needs of patients and despite the hardships Covid-19 has brought, it’s encouraging to know patients are still receiving the help they need, albeit virtually.

What insights has your role given you into the work of the charity? Alisha: Over the past four years, I’ve seen first-hand how the little things, like bottles of water, activity booklets and anti-nausea

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IN FOCUS

BRINGING THE GREAT OUTDOORS, IN THE CHARITY TEAMED UP WITH TEENAGE CANCER TRUST TO BRING A PERMANENT ART INSTALLATION TO THE ANCHOR INPATIENT WARDS

The project has been completed at a total cost of £23,790 with £15,860 funded by Friends of ANCHOR and £7,930 by the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The ANCHOR inpatient wards are enjoying a breath of fresh air thanks to the charity’s latest investment alongside Teenage Cancer Trust. The walls of the oncology and haematology inpatient wards have been adorned with large-scale photographs showing picturesque Scottish scenes, including Glencoe, the Forth Road Bridge and Portree harbour in Skye. The artworks form the basis for our new ‘Seeking Scotland’ art trail, with a trail booklet to ‘guide’ patients around the various landmarks during their stay in the ward.

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Kerry Bakewell, Ward 112 Senior Charge Nurse and Friends of ANCHOR committee member, said: “The art has been such a welcome addition to our wards, for both the staff and patients. Sometimes our patients can be in the ward for weeks or months at a time, so these lovely images of well-known landmarks and beautiful countryside really bring a wellbeing boost to the atmosphere.” For some, the images will inject some nostalgia as they admire views they may have experienced first-hand. Our hope is that the art adorning the walls will spark a little joy with all the colours and beauty of the imagery, lessening the feeling of being within a clinical setting. The images that feature in the new installation were gifted to the

ANCHOR Unit by multi-awardwinning photographer, Shahbaz Majeed, whose expertly shot scenes have become more than just decorative pieces within the hospital. Patients are invited to ‘visit’ each sight and challenge themselves to name where each photo was taken and which native flowers feature. With points of interest from across the North of Scotland, there are bound to be familiar sights. The trail is accessible thanks to our pocket-sized booklet adaptation, created so patients who are less mobile can still take part from the comfort of their room. With the artwork being a permanent feature in the wards, patients can take their time to complete the challenge and fully immerse themselves in a sense of the great outdoors.

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VIRTUAL EVENTS

COURAGE AND BRAVE: THE STORY SO FAR… COURAGE ON THE CATWALK AND BRAVE ARE SPECIAL OCCASIONS FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED WITH THEM, NOT LEAST FOR THE MODELS WHO TAKE PART AND THEIR FAMILIES While their catwalk debuts were set to take place in May, the coronavirus pandemic ultimately put the shows on pause. Since then we have been keeping in touch with phone calls, video quizzes, socially-distanced photo-shoots and of course, a virtual celebration of what would have been the show weekend. Thanks to unprecedented support from the Courage and Brave community, our weekend of celebration raised a total of £31,070.11.

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In Memory

Sadly the beautiful Nicola Harper passed away on Sunday, August 9. Although we only knew Nicola for a short time, she made a lasting impression on us as a team, and we know that feeling is similarly felt by her Courage sisterhood. Our thoughts go out to her husband Jim and their children Ailsa and Scott. Nicola will forever be a part of our Courage family.

g n i at br e l Ce of s e v i l e th s ne o d e v o l our Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve created a space on our website to celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us, whether they were a patient within the ANCHOR Unit or a passionate advocate of the charity. We hope these special tributes will bring a small measure of comfort to families, friends and colleagues.

Using notes and photographs from family, we can help create a personalised tribute, with a dedicated space

Spotlight Issue 11 / 2020

for extended family and friends to share memories or messages. Upon request, we can also offer a place for donations to be made. Each tribute, with any messages or memories, will be immortalised in a physical keepsake from the charity. Creating a tribute is free and easy to do. If you would like to discuss one, please get in touch by emailing erica.banks@friendsofanchor.org

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HEARTFELT MESSAGES FROM THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXCELLENT CARE WITHIN THE ANCHOR UNIT AS A PATIENT, FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND

“The nurses in the ANCHOR wards make you feel so at ease and so welcome, and more importantly you get an “It’ll all be alright” feeling. Their level of care is outstanding. They take the fear away from scary treatment and strive to get through it all as easily as possible.” “Brilliant team and very friendly. Nothing is too much for them; they have helped me in every way possible this last year. My Thursday night claps were always for this team.”

Our Pride,

by Jean Milne, COTC model alumni Within the ARI, in shades of blue and green, There lies a truly wonderful sight to be seen. Everyone playing their part just for us, Everyone doing their best with so little fuss Just like the display of the daffies outside, The united front of the NHS, standing side by side. Each single worker doing more than their best, While our NHS has never been so sorely put to the test. The NHS now 72 years in existence, Could never have foreseen such troubles as in this instance. Who could have predicted a pandemic on this scale, In years to come people will speak of this scary tale. And then to Friends of ANCHOR - 22 years of brilliance, all the time, Generous of time or money and worthy of a wee rhyme. Every step in oncology and haematology too, They’are there; doing all that they do. Their hands are tied at this most awful of times, Not there day by day to hear the chimes. The wards and clinics made all the better by them, From daily visits and services, the team eager to start up again. No-one has witnessed anything like this before, When hospitals everywhere had to lock the doors. To keep family and friends out – no visitors get in, So sad, so sad, so how do I begin.

To share a message of gratitude with the staff of the wards and clinics in the ANCHOR Unit please email info@friendsofanchor.org

To say from outside the hospital just now, Please listen and believe us, to you all we bow. We thank you each minute of each day, Please keep well, keep safe each step of the way. To all on the frontline you are Our Pride

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Friends of ANCHOR, c/o Balmoral Group Holdings Ltd, Balmoral Park, Loirston, Aberdeen AB12 3GY t. 01224 859170 e. info@friendsofanchor.org w. friendsofanchor.org

Registered Charity No: SC025332

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