The Macmillan Nurse team within NHS Western Isles is in the running for a top British award for cancer care.
They are the only Scottish team to be shortlisted in the Cancer Team of the Year UK category in the Quality in Care Oncology Awards which recognise best practice in oncology prevention, diagnosis and testing, treatment pathways and patient care.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on February 25.
The Macmillan Nurses work closely with local colleagues too: the community nurses, the GPs, hospital nurses and doctors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and dietitians.
The team, who are based in Stornoway and Benbecula, will regularly travel long distances
– making journeys by ferry and plane, across causeways and bridges – to deliver their
patient-
The judging panel that chose the Western Isles Macmillan Nurses for the shortlist said of them: “This is nursing at its best – working in a challenging environment and truly making a difference to people. The logistics of providing the care they do across this diverse geographical location is amazing.
“They are clearly a hard working, dedicated team who go beyond their remit to help their patients.”
Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan warmly welcomed the shortlisting, saying: “This is a well deserved recognition for an exceptional Macmillan team who are well known in the islands for the professional and compassionate care that they give. It is good to see this dedication being acknowledged, and I warmly congratulate the Macmillan team on this real achievement.”
Joanne Adamson, Macmillan Development Manager for the North of Scotland, said: “It’s a fantastic accolade for the team who show such a strong commitment to their patients and go above and beyond to look after people affected by cancer in the Western Isles.”
Western Isles Macmillan nurses shortlisted for award
7 February 2016