Welcome
A word from the executive editor
The name of this magazine was chosen to reflect the togetherness here at The Christie. We believe this is a place where everyone's voice is valued, and we want this new publication to showcase that.
Accordingly, in this first edition, you’ll be able to read stories from our staff and patients alike.
Hello and welcome to the first edition of our new staff and patient magazine – We are The Christie.
We’ve featured snippets of life here at The Christie, from the wards and throughout our departments and divisions.
This winter launch is full of heart-warming news, including a piece about our recent Christie Colleague Awards – which is one of my favourite events of the year – as well as stories about some of our staff and patients. We also share updates on our staff vaccination campaign, the launch of our Green Plan, and much more.
Whether you’re reading this in outpatients, or during a break in the dining room, I hope that you enjoy it. Life isn’t always easy in a busy NHS hospital, but I’m so happy to be able to share just some of the inspiring and interesting stories that take place here every day.
Thanks for reading,
Roger Spencer
Chief Executive
Contents
We’d love to hear your thoughts about this new magazine. Please send any feedback or ideas to the-christie.internalcomms@nhs.net
You can also get in touch by post at:
WATC Editor, The Christie, 2-4 Candleford Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 3JH.
News in brief
The Christie celebrates fifth anniversary of symptom monitoring service
2024 marks the fifth year of our electronic patient-recorded outcome measures (ePROMs) service, called MyChristie-MyHealth. ePROMs are online questionnaires that patients fill in to report their symptoms, side effects, and quality of life.
Over 20,000 patients, across 30 different services, have filled in over 60,000 ePROMs since 2019. The Christie is the first NHS Trust in the UK to routinely introduce cancer symptom management questionnaires on such a large scale. A large portion of the funding came from donations to The Christie Charity.
The service was also awarded the Greater Manchester Cancer Innovation Award in 2022.
Winter vaccination campaign underway
The Christie’s annual seasonal vaccination campaign began on Thursday 3 October 2024, with a drive for staff to get their flu and COVID-19 jabs.
As you may see around the building, some of our staff are currently starring in the promotion of the campaign. They volunteered to have their pictures taken for posters and other marketing materials, with a quote about why getting vaccinated is important to them.
Getting vaccinated helps our staff to protect themselves, and our patients, from flu and COVID-19 during this busy winter period when these viruses are common. Learn more in the interview with vaccinator Rhona Johnson on page 6.
Not had your flu or COVID-19 jabs yet? Visit nhs.uk/wintervaccinations to book now.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) inpatient survey results
In August, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published the results of the 2023 national inpatient survey, ranking The Christie amongst the top NHS Trusts in England.
The survey gathered responses from 651 Christie patients, who rated their overall hospital experience 9.1 out of 10, well above the national average.
Questions in the survey covered topics such as hospital admission and discharge, the hospital and ward environment, care and treatment, communication with staff, involvement in decisions, and being treated with respect and dignity.
VR therapy for children having radiotherapy
The Christie is the first hospital in the UK to use virtual reality (VR) distraction therapy for children and young people undergoing radiotherapy.
This is part of a 2-year project that aims to reduce anxiety related to cancer treatment.
The VR headset, designed for ages 7 to 16, has been used more than 20 times for procedures like cannulation, injections, dressing changes, and radiotherapy. Patients select face emojis before and after treatment to measure anxiety levels. The data collected will help assess the impact of VR on patient experiences during their cancer treatment journey.
Patients star in new Christie video
We recently produced a new film, We are The Christie, featuring some of our patients from Manchester and the North West.
The film showcases the range of services provided at The Christie and highlights the impact on patients' lives. Participants include BBC sports presenter Chris Latchem, drag artist Jay Swinnerton, midwife Claudia Boardman, and patient advocate Winston Carrington, alongside 24 clinical and non-clinical staff.
The video is being used at presentations and conferences, with translations for international audiences.
Watch the film by visiting The Christie YouTube channel at youtube.com/@TheChristieNHS
Feature story - Employee awards
Acting with kindness is something we ask of all our staff at The Christie. And there is nothing more rewarding for teams than when our patients take the time to say a heartfelt thank you.
Dr Berman honoured with Act with Kindness Award
Dr Richard Berman, Head of Supportive Oncology, was recently presented with the Act with Kindness award at our annual Christie Colleague Awards.
He was nominated by his patient, Helen Hyndman, who described him as "kind, caring, gentle, calming yet professional."
Helen said: “Richard sees me as a whole person, not just a person with cancer or a set of symptoms. He takes the time to really listen to me, without any rush, hearing not only what I say but also what I don’t say. This makes me feel he completely understands me, and I never feel rushed or as though I am just another patient in his clinic.
“Richard and I work together to make treatment decisions that are right for me. I feel he values my thoughts and opinions, always taking these into consideration. He has collaborated closely with other teams to alleviate some of my symptoms, massively improving my quality of life and giving me a future that I didn’t see.
“I don’t know how to begin to thank Richard for everything he has and continues to do for me – he is an incredible doctor and I know how lucky I am to be under his care. He saved my life, and he continues to give me hope and courage for the future – there is no greater impact than that!”
Helen attended our recent Christie Colleague Awards to personally present Richard with his award. They were joined by dozens of other colleagues who were nominated in The Christie Colleague Awards for an evening where we celebrated some of the amazing achievements that have taken place in the last year.
To read more about all of the winners from the colleague awards, please visit our colleague awards 2024 news story.
Under the microscope - Vaccinators
Our staff vaccination campaign at The Christie is currently in full swing, and we thought it’d be nice to catch up with one of our vaccinators, Rhona Johnson, to find out how it’s all going.
Q: What advice would you give to someone unsure about getting vaccinated?
A: Come and speak to one of the vaccinators or visit the vaccine hub. Alternatively, speak to your colleagues that may have already been vaccinated. It’s safe, quick, and easy.
Q: What would you say to a staff member thinking about signing up as a vaccinator next year?
A: Go for it! There is some online training to do, but the more people there are, the better the service that can be provided. If you are going to sign up, please make sure you are up to date with Basic Life Support (BLS) and have been fit tested.
Q: Has there been any particularly rewarding or memorable moments working on the campaign so far?
A: Vaccinating very nervous members of staff and them saying they’re really scared of needles or asking if it’s going to hurt. I tell them I’ve already done it and they didn’t feel a thing.
Q: How has this year’s vaccination campaign been going so far?
A: It’s going well. I believe all available appointments are booked at the moment, and drop-ins are busy too, so take-up has been good.
Q: Why did you sign up to be a vaccinator?
A: I am a roaming vaccinator, which means that I’m on the move and administer vaccinations around the Trust. I signed up because nurses at ward level can find it difficult to get to appointments in the hub, so we are taking the vaccines to them to make things easier, especially for staff coming off a night shift.
Q: What has the response been like so far? Are people eager to get vaccinated?
A: Response has been good; staff have been keen to get their vaccines. There was a two-day delay getting COVID-19 vaccines in for the start of the campaign, and staff were asking for updates on their arrival. That shows how keen people are to get protected.
Q: Why do you think it’s important that staff at The Christie get vaccinated?
A: It’s important not just for ourselves, but also for our patients who are already in a vulnerable category, and not forgetting our friends and family at home.
Patient stories
You Made A Difference awards
Here at The Christie, we celebrate the positive effect our staff and volunteers have on patients, visitors, and colleagues each month, with the You Made A Difference award.
Recent recipients include:
Around the Trust
Memorial tree planting
A memorial tree was planted at The Christie on 17 September 2024 to mark the first National Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers Lost to Suicide.
Since 2011, more than 2,500 health and care workers across the UK are recorded to have lost their lives to suicide. The planting was an opportunity for reflection and to remember those who are no longer with us.
Christie staff were joined by Sarah Jones from Doctors in Distress, a charity that provides mental health support to healthcare staff, at a memorial tree planting at our Withington site.
Dr Neil Bayman, Executive Medical Director, and Andrew Bradley, Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Co-ordinator, both spoke at the event. In the space, which is located to the right of the Oak Road entrance, benches have been installed where staff, patients, and visitors are all welcome to sit in contemplation.
New inpatient wards open
We are excited to announce that after over 3 years of work, 2 new wards – 14 and 15 – were officially opened on Saturday 19 October 2024.
The wards, which comprise 20 bedrooms for inpatients, were opened with assistance from the NHS Targeted Investment Fund (TIF). The 4-storey building was previously used for offices, but it has now been transformed into single rooms and 2-bed wards, all with en-suite bathrooms, as well as clinical/wellbeing spaces for staff.
The ward opening and moves are an integral part of our improvements around inpatient care and treatment.
Muslim support group launches at Maggie’s
A new Muslim cancer support group has been created in Greater Manchester. The support group, which is set up by Maggie’s and supported by The Christie, had its official launch event in October at Maggie’s Cancer Centre.
The centre, where the group meets, is based on Kinnaird Road, next to The Christie’s Withington site.
The group welcomes anyone from Greater Manchester and the surrounding area who is Muslim and is living with cancer, as well as their family and friends. It supports individuals who have been impacted by cancer directly or indirectly, within a safe environment that facilitates compassionate conversations.
Members can access expert advice and explore support services at Maggie’s, as well as learn about research opportunities from Christie staff to make informed decisions about participating in clinical trials.
For more details contact the Manchester centre: manchester@maggies.org or call 0161 641 4848.
Christie staff show their Pride
The uncooperative Manchester weather didn’t stop over 30 LGBT+ colleagues and allies from taking part in the Manchester Pride parade in August.
The atmosphere on the day was incredible. The group was cheered on along the route, with several people coming over to greet staff and share what The Christie meant to them and their families.
The parade entry was organised by The Christie’s Rainbow LGBT+ staff network group, which is open to LGBT+ people and allies.
Staff stories
Partnering for our patients
In 2010, The Christie entered into a joint venture with our partner HCA Healthcare UK to form The Christie Private Care, a dedicated partnership for patients with private medical insurance or for those who choose to self-fund their care.
The Christie partnered with HCA UK because they are a like-minded organisation with a focus on high-quality care. The benefits that this could bring for patients and for the organisation were evident. 14 years later, The Christie Private Care has treated thousands of patients, helping more people in the region and beyond to access outstanding cancer care.
This partnership brings many tangible benefits to us as a Trust, including a dedicated income stream that we can re-invest into our NHS services. Beyond this, we have found several other innovative ways to collaborate and enhance the benefits of working in partnership with HCA UK. These include shared clinical posts and investment in new technology, to benefit both NHS and private patients.
And during the pandemic, our established partnership meant that we could work together and continue to provide care for our time-critical patients – something we can all feel truly proud of.
For more details, contact the team on 0161 446 3000.
Charity corner
How the Charity supports our Trust
The Christie Charity plays a vital role in supporting The Christie by providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. From pioneering cancer research, care, and treatment to extra patient services that help make cancer treatment a little easier, the hospital would not be the world-leading centre it is without this support.
Studies have shown that cancer patients treated at research-intensive hospitals have better outcomes than those treated in hospitals with little or no research activity. Last year, our Charity funded £3.8m towards research projects and has pledged a further £30m over the next five years.
Reading this in the hospital? Then it’s likely you are experiencing some of the benefits that the Charity support makes possible.
Did you know that our Charity funds specialist staff including:
- Clinical nurse specialists and nurse clinicians who are experts in their field and provide help, advice, and physical and emotional support to patients.
- Clinical research fellows, advanced nurse practitioners, laboratory staff, research assistants, and technicians.
- A dementia nurse specialist.
- An artist in residence.
As well as:
- World-first clinical trials and research projects
- A complementary therapy service for patients, their families, and staff
- A smoking cessation service
- A wig service
- A staff library and education centre
- Music therapy for our younger patients
- An art service for patients and staff
- The maintenance of our beautiful garden and peaceful conservatory
- The enhancement of our catering service, allowing us to offer locally sourced fresh ingredients where possible and to accommodate patients' dietary preferences.
The Charity also funds larger-scale projects such as:
- Christie centres in Salford, Oldham, and Macclesfield
- Our bespoke teenage and young adult unit
- Our proton beam therapy research room (the first in the country)
- Our School of Oncology – a world-class teaching centre
- The Bloods Closer to Home service, to spare patients travel time and inconvenience
- Part funding of the multi-million-pound Paterson research building.
And this is just a small selection of the services, roles, and projects the Charity supports.
The Christie Charity has 2 centres located at the Withington site and The Christie at Macclesfield. The centres offer a welcoming space for anyone seeking more information about how to support the Charity. Both centres also sell a range of merchandise – including gifts, cards, jewellery, stationery, and other goods – with all proceeds going directly to The Christie.
Every donation made to The Christie Charity helps fund groundbreaking research, life-saving treatments, and enhanced patient amenities, creating a brighter future for our patients.
For details on how to support The Christie Charity, visit one of the centres, call 0161 446 7506, or visit: www.christie.nhs.uk/the-christie-charity
The Charity Centre (Withington site) is located near the Oak Road entrance of the hospital (department 3). Open Monday to Friday, 9.30 am – 4 pm.
The Macclesfield Charity Centre is located in the main waiting area at The Christie at Macclesfield. Open Tuesday to Thursday, 10 am – 3.30 pm.
The Christie Charity
