More than 800 patients - 350 of those children - have received treatment at The Christie since it became the first NHS high-energy PBT centre in the UK in late 2018.
“The nurses were there for every tear, every blood test, every wobble - giving stickers, offering distractions and kindness. Penelope Hart-Spencer, one of the centre’s health play specialists who work with children through play to take away the fear of their treatment, said: “We were blown away to be nominated.Dr Thorp, consultant clinical oncologist at The Christie, who specialises in paediatric radiotherapy, added: “It’s a team effort with everybody in the building.
It was originally set up as a three-bed unit in February 2020 but has since expanded and has now cared for more than 1,300 patients and their families.The Wellow Palliative Care Unit at St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, Isle Of Wight have been nominated for a Who Cares Wins award by three nominatorsPam McCarthy’s husband Rod, 80, spent 12 days on the unit before his death in April.
“A large number of patients were still dying in open bays. Families didn't have space or privacy with their loved ones.The two leaders of the Palliative Care Unit - Trish Reeves and Shane Moody - up for a WCW gong“The pilot was due to start in February 2020 for three months, but then Covid hit and our unit ended up having 30 beds.
The 12-strong team was led by Dr Michael Griksaitis, a consultant in paediatric intensive care at Southampton Children's Hospital, part of University Hospital Southampton. “We were landing in a provincial airport in Poland on the border but we could see helicopters and military transport - as well as duty free. It was surreal.