Cancer project scoops national award for Cheshire East

Cheshire East’s lung cancer project has won a top professional excellence award at Macmillan’s annual awards ceremony.

The project, funded by Cheshire East Council, raises awareness about the early signs and symptoms of lung cancer and speeds up diagnosis.

The proactive collaboration between Cheshire East Council’s public health team, NHS South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust means patients are supported at all stages of their treatment.

The project team, based at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, were presented with the ‘team excellence’ award at a prestigious ceremony held at The Hilton Metropole Hotel, in Birmingham, on November 12.

Project manager Michelle Huxley said: “It is an honour to have our work recognised by Macmillan. I see this award as recognition of the whole team’s hard work to improve the outcomes and experience of people affected by lung cancer.”

The project has already seen an increase in referrals and reduction in the proportion of cancers diagnosed through emergency admission from 21 per cent to 13 per cent in a single year. Furthermore, since the project began, the number of patients with access to a lung cancer clinical nurse specialist at diagnosis has risen from 46 per cent to 85 per cent.

Councillor Janet Clowes, Cheshire East Cabinet member in charge of adults, health and leisure, said: “We are delighted that the work of the lung cancer project team has been recognised nationally.

“The team’s hard work and dedication means that local people receive early diagnosis, information and the best possible care. The project has truly changed the lives of people living with lung cancer in Cheshire East.”