Hospital trust in talks about funding specialist nursing role

However, breast cancer patients in Worcester have stressed their 'worries remain' over the soon-to-be axed specialist nurse role.

A vital secondary breast cancer nurse specialist role (SBCN) supporting stage four cancer patients through their diagnosis and treatment is to be removed from Monday, April 1 due to a cut in funding.

St Richard's Hospice had funded the role from 2015 until now but is ceasing its funding after repeatedly requesting for a permanent funding solution to be found.

The hospice has insisted that the NHS fund and support the role.

But there is a glimmer of hope as it is revealed the Trust in charge of hospitals in Worcestershire hopes to share "positive progress very soon". 

Stephen Collman, managing director of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ”As the organisation which provides NHS cancer care to patients from across Worcestershire and further afield, we want to make sure that all our patients receive the best possible support at every stage of their diagnosis and treatment.

“We are pleased that funding discussions are underway and we hope to be able to share some positive progress very soon.”

But while patients are pleased to hear that the trust is considering their concerns, fears remain over the fact they have not been informed if a permanent fix will be found.

Debbie Donnison, a metastatic breast cancer sufferer from Lower Broadheath, near Worcester, said: "We are pleased to hear that the NHS trust is taking our concerns seriously and we would welcome any news of funding.

"However, the patients concerned are yet to be informed of any permanent solution to the issue by the NHS or St Richard’s Hospice so the worry remains."

Mrs Donnison has set up a petition with a group of patients that more than 1,500 people have signed against the removal of the role.

The 62-year-old said the news has brought back all of the anxieties she had experienced when receiving her cancer diagnosis a year ago.