Improving care for head-and-neck and thyroid cancer patients

The Head-and-Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Team at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) is made up of Catherine English and Kate McGinn, who both specialise as key workers for patients with a head-and-neck or thyroid cancer diagnosis.

Head-and-neck cancer can impose many challenges for the patient and support throughout their cancer journey is paramount to their overall recovery and survival. Occasionally patients will require an altered airway, such as a tracheostomy or laryngectomy, either temporarily or permanently, and the team has worked tirelessly to enhance this service to provide better support and care for patients and staff by engaging with a range of stakeholders.

At the centre of care has been the ongoing communication and engagement with patients, which has helped to shape the delivery of the service. The nurses carry mobile phones Monday to Friday so they can address patients' problems at an early stage. Timely and early support is a lifeline for these patients and can help to avoid emergency department (ED) admission.