Churchill Hospital receives top award for cancer care

The Churchill Hospital, run by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has scooped a national award for its commitment to patients living with incurable blood cancer.

The Oxford hospital's Haematology team was, on Friday 24 June 2022, presented with the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme (CSEP) Award in recognition of its outstanding care and dedication to patients with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer which claims the lives of 3,000 people in the UK each year.

Myeloma is especially hard to spot as its symptoms are often vague and dismissed as ageing or other minor conditions. By the time many patients are diagnosed their cancer has often advanced and they require urgent treatment. This can significantly impact their chances of survival and quality of life.

The accolade, awarded by charity Myeloma UK, recognises hospitals' commitment to raising the bar for treatment and providing compassionate and personalised care to patients.

Dr Karthik Ramasamy, Associate Professor of Haematology at the University of Oxford and Consultant Haematologist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are delighted to have received the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme award in recognition of the services we provide for myeloma patients in Oxfordshire. This is a testimony to the hardworking team and the multidisciplinary support available for our myeloma patients."

The Haematology team at Churchill Hospital was praised by Myeloma UK for its commitment to improving patients' quality of life and eagerness to adapt to their needs.

Monica Morris, Clinical Practice Services Senior Projects Officer at Myeloma UK, said: "Myeloma is a complex cancer which can be challenging to manage so we were extremely impressed by the team's willingness and ability to adapt and offer bespoke care. The doctors and nurses at the Churchill Hospital are very responsive to the high number of emails they receive asking for advice from across the region. They truly listen and always go the extra mile to understand and meet individual patients' needs."

Myeloma patient Peter Lynch, 74, from Bicester, was diagnosed with myeloma in January 2011. By the time his blood cancer was caught, the damage to his bones was so severe he "had lost half the width of a vertebra". His spine had to be stabilised with bone cement.

"When I was eventually diagnosed my bones were being eaten away," said the father-of-three, who is now on his third round of treatment after his cancer came back for a second time last year.

"I would not recommend anybody having myeloma but if you do, I don't think you can get better than the Churchill. The nurses can't do enough for you. I was having trouble getting drugs delivered at home and I sent an email to my nurse, Pamela Roberts, and she sorted it. 

"The team have been brilliant. That's the only word I can use to describe it. You know they're going to be there for you. We have a laugh, we joke - you can't let myeloma bring you down."

For more information visit: Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme.