COLCHESTER Hospital has been handed a top award recognising its commitment to patients battling blood cancer.
The hospital has earned the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme (CSEP) Award for the second time.
The national award given by the charity Myeloma UK highlights the hospitals dedication to patients with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer which claims the lives of 3,000 people each year in the UK.
The hospital has worked to reduce wait times for blood test results from two weeks to almost overnight and patients described the team as ‘exceptional’.
Patient Richard Cowell, 77, a father of two and a grandfather of four from Leavenheath, was diagnosed with myeloma in 2016 and has been receiving care at Colchester Hospital ever since.
He has thanked staff for supporting him through a difficult diagnosis and helping him cope with the side effects caused by rounds of intensive treatment.
He said: “The clinical nurse specialists are fantastic and we’re lucky to have them.
“The first nurse we had was Julie Buckenham and she was quite extraordinary. The way she treated us, it was almost like I was the only person who had myeloma.
“I felt so prepared and my anxiety was dispelled pretty quickly.
“I don’t worry about anything and I think that’s probably down to the way that Julie introduced things to me.”
He started treatment in November 2016 and immediately experienced severe side effects.
The drug thalidomide caused damage to his hearing and heart, and Richard had to have a pacemaker fitted.
READ MORE>>> Man who was nearly twice the drink drive limit is fined and banned from driving
He also suffered nerve damage following a stem cell transplant in 2017 and still experiences numbness in his lips to this day.
Sadly, Richard’s cancer has now returned and he will soon start his third round of treatment. He is now waiting to find out about possible treatment options.
Following the award, the hospital hopes to continue to be recognised for its service and continue to improve.
Rachel Duncombe-Anderson, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Colchester Hospital, said: “We are delighted and hope it will encourage and reassure our myeloma patients that we endeavour to offer excellent care and treatment.
“However, we won't be complacent and will continue to find ways to improve the service and the patient experience.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel