New service is launched at Monklands Hospital

Jul 23 2008 by Wendy Scott, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

HEAD and neck cancer patients in Lanarkshire are benefiting from a brand new service launched at Monklands Hospital.

NHS Lanarkshire and Macmillan Cancer Support have teamed up to fund a new post, based at the Airdrie hospital, which will provide a wide range of support services for people with these cancers - which most commonly affect the mouth and throat.

Karen Sheridan is the first Macmillan head and neck cancer clinical nurse specialist for Lanarkshire.

Her duties will involve counselling patients after they have been diagnosed with head or neck cancer and coordinating the other support services and benefits available to them.

Karen, who has worked as a clinical nurse specialist for ear, nose and throat at Monklands for the past 10 years, explained what her new role will involve.

She said: “Basically I’ll be trying to make life as easy as possible for patients with these kinds of cancer.

“After diagnosis it is an understandably difficult time for people but I’ll be able to speak with them, offer counselling and also continue to offer advice on a wide range of issues throughout their treatment.

“Although I’m based at Monklands, this is a Lanarkshire wide service and I’ll be able to visit people in their own home if required.

“I know this will be a challenging role but it is one I’m looking forward to as I believe it will be hugely beneficial to the people with these types of cancer in Lanarkshire.”

Head and neck cancer most commonly affects the mouth and the throat although it can also be found in the sinuses and nose.

Compared to other cancers, there is generally less awareness about these types of the disease despite the fact it is the fifth most common cancer in Scotland and is commonly linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol intake.

The head and neck service in Lanarkshire treats 15 per cent of all cases diagnosed in Scotland.

Graeme McGibbon, senior nurse for Lanarkshire in ear, nose and throat/oral and maxillofacial surgery (ENT/OMFS), said: “Head and neck cancer and subsequent treatment impacts on many aspects of daily life that we take for granted including speech, swallowing and physical appearance.

“The appointment of Karen to the Macmillan head and neck cancer post is, therefore, an essential addition to the service.”

Mhairi Simpson, nurse consultant for cancer care, added: “This is a key role in the multi-disciplinary team for head and neck cancer care in Lanarkshire.

“It will make a significant impact upon the experiences of patients’ experience of cancer and Karen will also be available to help their families and provide information and support to them.”

Macmillan's Senior Development Manager for the West of Scotland, Allan Cowie, believes Karen will be a great addition to the services provided to patients with cancer in Lanarkshire.

He said: "The need for this post has been well known for a number of years and we are delighted to further enhance our partnership with NHS Lanarkshire by funding the post, the first of it kind in Lanarkshire.

“We are confident that it will make a significant contribution to improving the care and wellbeing of people affected by head and neck cancers across the county.”