Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is a difficult and life-changing experience and support is critical, especially as treatment begins. We’re proud to work with Mesothelioma UK and know how important the role they play is, in supporting patients with advice, information, and access to their Clinical Nurse Specialists.
A bit of background
Mesothelioma UK was launched in 2004 as a specialist resource centre, specifically for the asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma. They dedicate themselves to providing specialist information, support and education, and tirelessly campaign for improving care and treatment for everyone living with mesothelioma in the UK.
Their growing network of specialist nurses are integrated into the NHS, to ensure expert mesothelioma nursing is directly available to patients as they need it.
To help fuel the development of the charity, they implemented a five year plan in 2016, which will be coming to an end this year. Back then, they noted some concerning facts about mesothelioma – that the UK has a higher incidence of the disease than anywhere else in the world, and that this was continuing to rise. They also noted that across the UK, there was an unacceptable variation in access to specialist treatment, care, and clinical trials. To combat this, their five year plan involved a range of targets, including increasing their income from £0.5 million to £3m per year by 2021, and increasing the number of Clinical Nurse Specialists to 30.
It’s clear that the Clinical Nurse Specialists are the beating heart of the charity, providing invaluable advice, care and support for patients in their region, and improving their access to treatment.
30 is the magic number
After setting their target in 2016 to reach 30 Clinical Nurse Specialists by 2021, the charity reached their goal in January this year. Their team has expanded from just 11 nurses when the target was set, with this achievement seeing them safely celebrating together with a video call.
With the pandemic affecting treatment options, appointments and there being an increased risk and pressure on vulnerable mesothelioma patients, the role their nurses play has never been more important.
Simon Bolton is the most recent Clinical Nurse Specialist to join the team at Mesothelioma UK and the role is one that we were able to help fund.
Simon is responsible for liaising with multi-disciplinary teams across seven Yorkshire hospitals, focusing on increasing information and access to clinical trials across the UK, and co-ordinating the Mesothelioma Support Yorkshire (MESSY) group for mesothelioma patients and carers.
Simon has worked with the Mesothelioma UK team in the past, and has worked throughout West and North Yorkshire as a Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist since 2004.
Commenting on his new role, Simon Bolton said: "I’m delighted to be back in the Mesothelioma UK team and thoroughly missed my time away. In the midst of a pandemic, now more than ever, people affected by asbestos-related cancer need expert support."
Our asbestos related disease specialist Ian Toft knows Simon well and is delighted that his expertise and experience will be benefitting mesothelioma patients up and down the country. He said: “We’re really proud to be able to help fund the incredible work that Mesothelioma UK undertakes. Through our work, we understand the need for such a role, with more than 100 people diagnosed with mesothelioma in West, North and East Yorkshire every year.
"It’s vital for the charity to have specialist nurses like Simon and we're pleased to be able to fund his new full-time role within the team - we know he'll make an amazing difference."
In such challenging times, the work of charities such as Mesothelioma UK has never mattered more. To find out more about the work they do visit their website.
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