Major London cancer care provider, Barts Health NHS Trust, has selected a new workforce training partner in a bid to improve the awareness and understanding of the impact of a cancer diagnosis.
Staff at London’s second largest cancer unit will benefit from support designed by the charity Cancer Support UK. As well as improve understanding and awareness, the Communicating about Cancer e-learning module is expected to:
- enhance communication skills;
- better support for colleagues living with cancer through their treatment and recovery; and
- boost staff morale, motivation and loyalty.
Workforce training
The course is a self-learning programme which includes practical scenarios and exercises to help staff, across all levels of seniority, manage sensitive conversations around cancer.
It will also help the workforce better understand the extent of the support available to them.
Barts’ internal education channel will enable approximately 21,000 of its staff to complete the 35-45 minute course.
NHS partnership
Cancer Support UK’s CEO, Mark Guymer, described the integrated nature of the partnership as recognition of his charity’s “pioneering” work.
“Our innovative learning is clearly the right fit for Barts Health Trust which recognises the importance of giving employees, as well as patients, as much emotional support as possible,” he said.
Andrea McDonnell, deputy director of Barts’ education academy, added: “We are excited to work with Cancer Support UK to roll out this training to our staff members at Barts Health.
“The training will provide staff with the knowledge and skills to be able to provide support for each other as well as raising awareness and supporting staff wellbeing across our teams.”
The news comes after analysis from Cancer Research UK suggested that, if NHS performance were to continue at its current pace, more than 300,000 patients will start their cancer treatment late over this parliament.
Image credit: iStock
