Clinical nurse specialists

Our Clinical Nurse Specialists are also assisted by Macmillan Support Workers, who help man our phone lines and deal with any queries you may have.

Our Acute Oncology Nursing Team supports any emergency admissions following a cancer diagnosis, as well as those patients whose cancer may be diagnosed during an emergency admission.

We also have a specialist palliative care team whose members are experts in symptom control and management. They work closely with our hospices and community services to enable the best possible support outside of hospital as required up to end of life.

Breast

Our clinical nurse specialists are available for patients to call on at all stages of their care for expert advice, psycho-social support and information on their disease, investigations, treatment and follow-up care. We see patients who have been referred via their GP with breast symptoms and also women who have been referred for second stage breast screening. 

We are the link between the patient and the Breast Team, the wider multidisciplinary team and any other trusts or organisations to which patients may be referred. It is our job to make the patient pathway as smooth and streamlined as possible within an individualised and caring environment.

We are available to patients, their carers, family and hospital staff either by telephone or face to face, both on the ward or in outpatient clinics.

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Haematology

Our haematology clinical nurse specialists offer advice and support to patients and their families diagnosed with a blood cancer and a variety of benign blood disorders.

Working along side the multi-professional haematology team both on the ward and in outpatient and day case care, we take an active part in communicating and planning treatment pathways for our patients.

We can be with you in the clinic at the time of diagnosis and are available to patients, carers, family and staff at other times, either on the telephone or face to face in the ward or out-patient areas.

As a designated keyworker, patients are given contact details for their CNS and are encouraged to contact them with any questions or concerns they may have regarding their diagnosis, investigations, treatment or follow-up care.

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Head and neck

Our head and neck cancer clinical nurse specialists are available to patients with ear, nose and throat, maxillo-facial or thyroid cancers for expert advice, support and information on their disease, investigations, treatment and follow-up care.

We act as the link between the patient and family and the multidisciplinary team for head and neck cancer, who meet weekly at Sussex Cancer Centre in Brighton.

We aim to make that pathway as smooth and streamlined as possible by meeting the patient at breaking of bad news in Worthing and on their first appointment in Brighton.

We are available to patients, their carers, family and hospital staff by telephone or email, as well as face to face on the ward or in outpatient clinics.

Upper gastrointestinal and Hepato-pancreato-bilary

Patients can contact our Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) clinical nurse specialists at all stages of their journey for expert advice, support and information on their disease, investigations, treatment and follow-up care.

We are the link between the patient and the rest of the Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) team, and to the other trusts to which patients can be referred. It’s our job to make that pathway as smooth and streamlined as possible.

We are available to patients, their carers, family and hospital staff either on the telephone or face to face on the ward or in outpatient clinics.

Colorectal

Our colorectal nurse specialists are here to provide support, advice and information to anyone diagnosed with cancer of the colon or rectum.

We are available at all stages of diagnosis, investigation, treatment and follow-up to help patients understand their care pathway and to coordinate the many specialties that will have input to it.

We are available to patients, their carers, family and hospital staff either on the telephone or face to face on the ward or in outpatient clinics.

Gynaecology

The Clinical Nurse Specialist will act as a link between the various healthcare professionals involved in your care, and can provide support and information relating to your gynaecological cancer diagnosis.

The Macmillan Gynae Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS):

• Works as part of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team (MDT) to support patients with suspected gynaecological cancers- ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vaginal and vulval.
• Provides a link between the healthcare team in hospital and your doctor or District Nurse.
• Can be a point of contact for patients and families who require further information about their condition and treatment.
• Provides ongoing support for patients with a diagnosis throughout their pathway managing elements of their care.
• Advises and provides information on radiotherapy and chemotherapy , surgery and their side-effects.
• Advises and provides information on other aspects such as other symptoms, practical matters such as travel insurance, wig information, and financial concerns – liasing with our Macmillan support worker where appropriate
• Provide continuing support for you and your family during and after your treatment, acting as your key worker.

Along with the nurses, doctors and therapists in the team, the Clinical Nurse Specialist will work with you and your family or carer to discuss your treatment planning through to your discharge from hospital and will support you ongoing.

If, following your treatment you require ongoing care, the Clinical Nurse Specialist will work with you, your family and the multi-disciplinary team to ensure your care needs are met. If you live some distance from the hospital, this may mean referring you on to health professionals near to your home.

When you leave hospital, we provide support, either by telephone or by seeing you at the hospital. If, when you leave hospital, you have concerns or questions relating to your condition and treatment, the Clinical Nurse Specialist can be contacted for advice.

The Clinical Nurse Specialist will also provide advice on symptom management for you and liaise with our team regarding your medication. Patients may be seen in either a doctor or nurse-led clinic depending on clinical need and the CNS is able to manage your care and treatment and discuss with the consultant where necessary.

Some patients may simply want advice over the telephone. Others may require a longer structured period of support. The Clinical Nurse Specialist will work with you and your carer/s to discuss your individual needs.

Skin

The main role of the clinical nurse specialist for skin cancer is providing holistic support to these patients, their families and carers in line with NICE and BAD guidance.

We act as key workers ensuring patients are fast-tracked to relevant specialist teams for intervention and treatment.

We teach health care professionals, perform biopsies and minor surgery treatment for skin cancers.

We manage our own caseload of patients running two nurse-led clinics: skin cancer minor surgery and skin cancer counselling.

Chemotherapy

Our Macmillan Chemotherapy (Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment (SACT) Education Facilitator plays a key role in ensuring our patients and their families receive the best possible care by ensuring all staff are up to date in their knowledge and practice of chemotherapy.

Based in the Medical Day Case Unit at Worthing Hospital, we support staff with their educational needs, developing our links with Brighton University and teaching on the Cancer Pathways.

Lung

The role of our lung cancer clinical nurse specialists as keyworkers is to treat and manage the health concerns of patients and work to promote their health and wellbeing.

As experienced nurses in lung cancer care, we provide physical and emotional support, coordinate care services and inform and advise patients on clinical and practical issues.

We provide a link between the lung MDT clinicians and the patient. It is our job to ensure the patient pathway is as smooth and streamline as possible.

We are available through all points of the lung cancer pathway to patients, their carers, family and hospital staff either on the telephone or face to face on the ward or in outpatient clinics.

We run a monthly support group/coffee morning which is an opportunity to meet other people in a similar situation and share experiences in a safe, friendly environment.

Urology

Our uro-oncology clinical nurse specialists provide advice, support and information to patients with uro-oncological cancer and their families, and act as an expert resource and advisor to other health care workers across the Trust.

We are usually present at the time of a uro-oncological cancer diagnosis and are appointed as the key worker helping in the co-ordination of care.

We work alongside the multi-professional urology team both on the ward and in the out-patient setting. We also act as a link with other trusts to which patients can be referred.

Patients will be given our contact card and are encouraged to contact us with any concerns they may have regarding their diagnosis, investigations, treatment or follow-up.