National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Day is a day to celebrate and highlight everything that the cancer nursing workforce does for patients in the UK-wide health sector every day.
At Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW), there are 75 cancer CNSs providing outstanding care to some of the Trust’s most in need patients and helping them and their families through their cancer journey, covering areas including haematology, palliative care, acute oncology, breast and urology.
A cancer clinical nurse specialist is a qualified nurse. They deliver, person-centred care to patients, providing them with specialist support, which includes information about their type of cancer, treatment options and possible side effects. They support people from the point of diagnosis and continue to be involved in their care throughout their cancer treatment.
As part of the National Cancer CNS Day celebrations this year, two members of staff have spoken about their experiences and what they enjoy most about providing care to patients.
Min Zhang moved the UK from China in 2005 and has been part of MTW for 15 years, and Hannah Fotheringham is from the Medway towns and has been qualified for 24 years.