Celebrating our Clinical Nurse Specialists

On 15 March 2024 the NHS Thames Valley Cancer Alliance (TVCA) joined the NHS across England to celebrate Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists and their contribution to our nation’s healthcare.

As well honouring the importance of their role in patients’ treatment and care, National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Day also highlighted the career opportunities in this specialist area of nursing.

TVCA Cancer Clinical Lead for Nursing and Allied Health Professions, Lyndel Moore, said: “These nurses are a vital member of every cancer patient’s cancer care team. They are there supporting patients every step of the way, from diagnosis, treatment, and to living with or beyond the cancer diagnosis.”

The cancer clinical nurse specialist provides evidence-based care with their advanced cancer knowledge and expertise to assess, diagnose, plan, and treat individuals, as well as to support them and their families through the cancer experience. Their role often extends into other areas, like advanced practice, healthcare management, leadership, and research. This provides a fantastic career opportunity in specialist nursing.

As part of the celebration a special lunch and learn session was held to reflect all the brilliant work of CNSs.

We want more of these specialist nurses

There are not enough of these Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists, with a national shortfall and the Thames Valley is no exception, so tackling this is a priority for TVCA.

Lyndel Moore said: “With an increasing number of people being diagnosed and, fortunately, more lines of treatment available in many cancers, the cancer CNS role is complex and very busy.

“Nationally the ACCEND programme is addressing some of the cancer workforce challenges by providing a competency framework and career pathway for cancer nurses. At TVCA we are working closely with nursing teams to implement the framework and support the training needed to help our nurses deliver this specialist care.

“Every day we appreciate the resilience, resourcefulness, and flexibility of our cancer clinical nurse specialists. But on National Cancer CNS Day, we want them to know that they are outstanding, and we celebrate each and every one of them.”

Thanks from the Trust Cancer Lead Nurses