Cancer services at Noble’s Hospital have been recognised with two significant awards.
The Macmillan Cancer Information Centre and the Chemotherapy Suite have each been awarded the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark (MQEM).
An awards ceremony was held on Friday, attended by Health Minister David Anderson, as well as staff and volunteers.
Elizabeth McGowan, cancer services improvement facilitator, said: ‘Working in cancer services is very rewarding, we all feel we are in such a privileged position to be able to improve care and standards to make the cancer journey easier for patients, families and friends.
‘The unique collaboration between Noble’s Hospital and Macmillan Cancer Support has enabled us to achieve our objectives.
‘In meeting the MQEM standards, we have demonstrated that Noble’s Hospital is welcoming and accessible to all, respectful of patients’ privacy and dignity, supportive to users’ comfort and well-being and enables those who use the service more choice and control.’
The detailed quality framework is used for assessing whether cancer care environments meet the standards required by people living with cancer.
The Macmillan Cancer Information Centre – run in partnership between Noble’s Hospital and Macmillan Cancer Support – provides free information, support, therapies and treatment for anyone affected by cancer.
Jez Such of Macmillan said: ‘To receive the award, environments have to score highly in areas such as use of space, comfort and atmosphere, personal and social interaction and health and well being – all areas highlighted as really important by people living with cancer who helped develop the award.
‘Assessors also looked at the mechanisms and processes the organisation had implemented to improve cancer services as a whole.’