Cancer Newsletter
This issue contains information, updates, and stories that have been handpicked for you about the work and achievements within cancer services at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust that has taken place through Summer 2025.
Is there a story, update, or some information you’d like to share for the next issue?
If you do, please email Sarah Birch, Cancer Services Improvement Officer: Sarah.Birch29@nhs.net Email Sarah a story now
Welcome to the team!
Jessica Dent
Cancer Support Worker for Skin
Ebony Lees
Cancer Services Tracker
Toni Ibbotson
Gynaecology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Emma Salt
Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Rebecca Lyon
tIt’sbeenabusy rimefor Mecruitment.eetournewestcolleagues!
Cancer of Unknown Primary Clinical Nurse Specialist
Hafza Nawaz
Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Kaylee Bowden
Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Eleanor Houghton
Lung Clinical Nurse Specialist
Danielle Spencer
Lung Clinical Nurse Specialist
dWeareelightedytohaveoujoinus!
Cancer Performance
Cancer waiting time performance for Q1 (April, May and June)
All figures correct on date of publication.
Data is validated for all groups and pathways.
Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA)
Holistic Needs Assessments are a quality priority for the Trust. A target is set at 85% of newly diagnosed patients with cancer being offered the chance to complete a HNA to support personalised care planning.
Highest-ranking teams for Q4 (for offering HNAs) are:
Macmillan Cancer Information Support Service attends Health in our Community event
The Macmillan Information and Support Service at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust plays a vital role in supporting individuals affected by cancer, offering a compassionate and confidential space for patients, families, and carers. These are a few examples of their ongoing work
The Macmillan Information Support Centre attended the Health in our Community event on Thursday 11 September at Rotherham Minster where over 20 organisations came together to offer friendly advice and support for the wellbeing of local residents.
Attendees had the opportunity to explore the wide range of health and wellbeing services available in Rotherham, including support for long term conditions, guidance on healthy lifestyles, and resources to improve emotional health.
October marks Menopause Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
To support this, an informative display was set up at the Macmillan Information and Support Centre featuring a range of materials including information and support booklets for visitors to take away.
soon
TRFT HealthZone app coming
A dedicated cancer support and information app to guide patients and their loved ones through their cancer journey has been created.
TRFT Healthzone app will support patients with a wide range of topics.
From understanding investigations, treatments, and surgery options to accessing emotional and financial support, it has a comprehensive and user-friendly platform to help navigate the complexities of cancer care with confidence and clarity.
Cancer Services showcased at September’s Fresh Air Fayre
Cancer Services were one of the services who proudly participated in the Fresh Air Fayre in September.
The Fresh Air Fayre was a showcase of their service, with the team producing an informative display board.
Many attendees asked engaging and probing questions about Cancer Services.
The event was also a valuable opportunity to raise awareness and connect with other staff members from around the Trust.
Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) conference: redefining patient care through research and collaboration
Dr Victoria Athey presented on the Rotherham one stop clinic at this conference in Liverpool. During a prizegiving at the end of the conference, Dr Athey was commended for her presentation.
Dr Athey was joined at the conference by Lead Cancer of Unknown Primary Clinical Nurse Specialist Jenni Webb and Lead Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist Laurie Robertson.
In September, we bid a fond farewell to Mike Smith, our Cancer Services Improvement Lead.
To mark his last day, the team gathered to share cake, warm wishes, and heartfelt thanks for his contributions.
We wish Mike every success in his new role and hope he continues to make positive impact wherever he goes.
June’s Cancer Services celebration!
On Friday 25 June, colleagues from across cancer care pathways came together for the first Cancer Celebration Event.
The event brought together teams from the Trust and wider system to highlight all the incredible work taking place across cancer care to improve the experience and quality for patients.
Teams represented were: Cancer Data Team, Cancer Nurse Specialists, Research, Clinical Governance, Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service, Cancer Services, Active Together Rotherham, Clinical Psychology, and Cancer Navigators.
We were also delighted to welcome support from key partners including Macmillan Welfare Rights, Macmillan Rotherham Cancer Advocacy Service (Citizens Advice Rotherham District), Lung Health Check, Rotherham Cancer Care, and Trends Wigs.
Attendees were able to learn more about established services, innovations in care, and the positive impact being made across the patient journey.
Monday 6 October to Friday 10 October was Acute Oncology Week. To mark the week, our Acute Oncology Team visited wards and departments around Rotherham Hospital to promote their service.
Our Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) attended the recent SYB Cancer Alliance CNS away day, which celebrated National Cancer CNS Day.
The event was opened by “Shirley’s Story”, a video featuring a patient from Rotherham. The day was introduced by Executive of the South Yorkshire ICB, by an insightful overview of the health inequalities faced by our patients across SYB.
There were other presentations throughout the day with a focus on sharing best practice with our very own Home Chemotherapy team describing their innovations. The whole event was evaluated positively with some useful approaches shared to improve the quality of care our patients receive.
Getting to know Andrea, our Associate Director of Operations
Andrea Squires is the Trust’s Associate Director of Operations.
She leads on the performance, planning, and delivery of elective, diagnostic, and cancer services.
“My role is focused on restoring and sustaining highquality, timely care by improving access, reducing waiting times, and addressing health inequalities.
“I work closely with clinical teams and system partners to drive strategic transformation, manage performance, and deliver real, measurable improvements for our patients.
“My background is in clinical care, starting as a midwife before moving into patient safety and leadership roles across several NHS trusts.
“Over the years, I’ve led large-scale service improvement and operational programmes across urgent care, surgery, and now cancer services.
“I’m passionate about compassionate leadership, creating a culture where people feel supported to grow, lead, and thrive.
“Ultimately, my ambition is to make a genuine difference for patients by improving the quality and experience of care across every pathway I support.”
Welcoming Matt, our new Deputy Cancer Services Manager
Matt Barber began his career with the NHS as a GP receptionist aged 16, where he fell in love with the NHS.
The role provided him with valuable experience and a lasting sense of purpose that has continued with him throughout his career.
Matt holds a degree in Politics and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Sheffield.
His previous experience includes working in the audit department at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Therapeutic Apheresis Services at NHS Blood and Transplant and the Medicine Care Group at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Matt is currently on the NHS Management Graduate Training Scheme, where he is in his second and final year. He joined Cancer Services in September, where he is the Deputy Cancer Services Manager.
“My work is focused on making sure cancer pathways run smoothly for patients. That includes overseeing cancer tracking, monitoring performance data, and supporting improvement projects that help us meet national standards. I’ll also be working closely with clinical and operational teams, Care Groups and system partners to help create services that are safe, timely and centred on patients’ needs.
“What motivates me most is the people I work with. The NHS is full of dedicated people who want to make services better for patients, and it’s a privilege to be part of that. Even when the work is demanding, the motivation and commitment of colleagues makes a huge difference. That’s part of what makes it such a unique place to work.”
New support hub on the Cancer Alliance Shows Up website
A new online psychosocial support hub has been launched on the Cancer Alliance Shows Up website.
Colleagues are encouraged to explore the new online hub which offers information and access to emotional and practical resources for patients, families, and carers. The Hub also has a training section for staff.
Visit the South Yorkshire Shows Up website for details and please share the link widely.
Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity providing specialist nursing care and support for young people with cancer. They support anyone diagnosed with cancer aged 13-24, and their loved ones too.
If you have a young person aged 16 to 24 with a cancer diagnosis can you please inform the Teenage and Young Adult Cancer team if they are admitted to your area.
Telephone: 0114 2265360
Email: sth.sht-tr.childrenandyoungpeoplestyamdt@nhs.net
LGI Cancer Pathway Improvement Event
The Lower GI Team at Rotherham Hospital, attended a cancer improvement event in August.
The in-person improvement event brought together colleagues from across the Lower GI pathway to collaborate on enhancing the patient journey.
It provided a chance to share insights and identify areas for improvement that support the delivery of high-quality, timely care for our patients on a Lower GI pathway.
Rotherham Skin Process Mapping workshop with MSD and Cancer Alliance
SYB Cancer Alliance is working in partnership with MSD to drive improvement work across the skin cancer pathway in line with 2025/26 national deliverables.
The Skin Cancer Team took part in a process mapping workshop on in September held in collaboration with MSD and the Cancer Alliance.
The session focused on refining the "See and Treat" pathway to enhance patient outcomes and streamline service delivery.
Cancer Services supported Organ and Tissue Donation Week
During Organ and Tissue Donation Week (Monday 22 September to Sunday 28 September), the Cancer Services Team, along with other Trust colleagues, wore pink socks to promote conversations around the importance of organ and tissue donation.
Thank you to colleagues who have donated tea, coffee and juice to our support groups.
Refreshments help us create a welcoming and comforting environment for those patients who attend the groups.
Your support makes a meaningful impact.
Celebrating
our 2025
Proud Awards winners and nominees from within Cancer Teams
Winner: Home Chemotherapy Service (Chief Executive’s Award)
Winner: Ayan Muhammed, Cancer Services Apprentice (Learner of the Year)
And congratulations to Cancer Services, who made final shortlist for the Non-Clinical Team of the Year award.
Collaborative working between our Cancer Nursing Teams and the Chaplaincy service
A productive workshop was held in the chapel with the Chaplaincy team to explore opportunities for collaborative working aimed at enhancing both patient experience and staff support.
Several initiatives emerged from the session, including a video introducing the role of the Chaplaincy to both teams and patients.
Staff Bereavement Support Group
Join our Chaplaincy and Wellbeing teams in a safe, friendly, nonjudgemental environment where you can connect with others who understand and find comfort in shared experiences.
Support is available to colleagues experiencing grief either through their work or at home. Our Chaplaincy team offer a pastoral support service to everyone, whether they are religious or not.
The support group meets every first Tuesday of the month, 12pm to 1pm.
2024 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey results
The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey gives individuals receiving cancer treatment the opportunity to share their views on the care they’ve received. This input helps identify areas where services are performing well and where improvements can be made across NHS cancer care in England.
The findings are used by healthcare providers to enhance patient experience at national, regional, and local levels.
The survey is conducted by Picker on behalf of NHS England.
These are the top results for The Rotherham NHS Trust in the 2024 survey
View the 2024 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey results in full online
After the treatment finishesthen what?
Adjusting to life after cancer treatment can be a complex and emotional journey.
While many patients feel a sense of relief when treatment ends, they often face a wave of mixed emotions including anxiety about the future, fear of recurrence, and uncertainty about what their "new normal" looks like.
The transition can feel like entering a different world, where individuals must come to terms with new feelings, changes in support systems, and a fresh perspective on life. Common challenges include managing lingering physical side effects, coping with emotional shifts, and re-establishing routines.
Some survivors may also require ongoing monitoring through tests and check-ups to ensure the cancer has not returned.
To support recovery, patients are encouraged to be patient with themselves, take things at their own pace, seek help from family, friends, and healthcare professionals, and engage in activities that bring joy and promote wellbeing.
Read the full article on the Hub
We have been selected as one of ten organisations nationally to pilot Digital ACCEND on the National Digital Solution platform, which went live on Monday 1 September.
Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development Framework (ACCEND) is a national NHSE cancer career and education development programme that supports aspirant cancer nurses and allied health care professionals towards increasing their knowledge, skills and capability.
The programme provides transformational reform in the education, training and career pathways for cancer support workers, nurses and AHPs supporting people affected and living with cancer.
Dates for your diary
October
Breast cancer awareness month
Liver cancer awareness month
November
Lung cancer awareness month
Mouth cancer awareness month
Pancreatic cancer awareness month