Celebrating our Nurses this January - Year of the Nurse

This year is the International Year of the Nurse and we are celebrating just some of our amazing nursing staff across the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital.

Chris McGhee – Giles’ Trust Research Nurse

Chris McGhee works at QEHB as the new Giles’ Trust Research Nurse. Chris’ post is funded by The Giles’ Trust, who previously funded Donna Gillen in this role. The role proved so successful that Donna was taken on by the NHS and now Chris has joined her to provide even more support for the brain tumour research team at the hospital.

Chris said: “We have a lot of really amazing research trials that are being conducted at QEHB into brain tumours. These trials could help to shape our understanding of how brain tumours can be treated, ultimately saving lives. My role is to help to recruit patients to these trials, at what is a confusing time for them. I will be helping to build the bridge between the clinicians and the patients, helping to guide the patient through the trial.

“It’s really human work, and it’s all about talking to people and engaging them and building a relationship with someone who’s going through one of the toughest times of their life. I’m really excited to be joining the team and it’s great that my role has been made possible thanks to generous donations to the Charity.”

Find out more about The Giles’ Trust here.

Charlotte Coldrick and Jackie Wilson - Chemotherapy at Home Nurses, Heartlands Hospital

Charlotte and Jackie are part of the Ward 19 team at Heartlands Hospital and they form part of the Chemotherapy at Home team who go out into the community to deliver treatment to patients in the comfort of their home.

Heartlands Hospital Charity is delighted to be able to fund their work, thanks to the generous donations that we receive from our supporters. Charlotte and Jackie, along with their colleagues, help to deliver chemotherapy to patients who are too unwell to leave their home to come to the unit, or who have mobility issues.

Charlotte said: “Having a cancer diagnosis is a traumatising and stressful time for anyone. Our service allows our patients to stay at home where they are most comfortable. Instead of having to go to the clinic for seven days in a row, they can be at home, eating and sleeping as they normally would.

“Thanks to the support of Heartlands Hospital Charity, we are able to make life easier for cancer patients across the region.”

Find out more about our Chemotherapy at Home Nurses here.

Lisa Smith – Senior Sister on the Frailty Assessment Unit, Good Hope Hospital

Lisa is the Senior Sister on the Frailty Assessment Unit which treats a lot of the hospital’s older patients. She leads and manages an award-winning team and give the best care possible to both patients and their families.

She said: “I love making a difference to patients and their families, it means a lot to them when we do simple things like have a conversation with them. The Charity has helped me get pieces of equipment that the NHS can’t fund for us including a HoverJack which helps staff when a patient has had a fall and a reminiscence trolley for older patients which sparks conversations and helps them feel more comfortable.

“If you’re thinking of raising money for the hospital charity – please go for it! The Charity is a vital resource to help when we need equipment we can’t get from the NHS and they help us with so many different things.”

Find out more about how you can get involved here.

Gemma Hughes - Haematology and Oncology Day Unit Manager, Solihull Hospital

Since the unit was built in 2018, Gemma has been a huge supporter of the hospital charity. She has taken part in numerous fundraising events such as the abseil, and always makes sure patients, families and staff on the unit have the support and care that they need.

She said: “I manage a group of amazing, highly skilled nurses and a great support team to ensure that patients get the best care when receiving these treatments. I love the interaction we get with our patients, we get to know them really well over the course of their treatment and I have a passion in developing our team and seeing them grow in confidence.”

The hospital charity raised £150,000 for the new unit thanks to your incredible help. Patients who needed cancer treatment before this unit was built were travelling to a busy Ward 19 at Heartlands Hospital or the Sheldon Unit at Good Hope Hospital.

Gemma said: “Cancer services develop so quickly and there is always more that we can do to improve the service, develop the skills and knowledge of our staff and provide the best environment that we can for our patients.

“Please help us help our patients by donating to the hospital charity, you could help us fund new equipment, beautiful wall art and even cloud kits for children to help come to terms with a family member’s diagnosis.”

You can donate now at hospitalcharity.org/cancercentre.