New Information Lead appointed
With its reputation for excellence for the provision of patient information, the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre is delighted to announce the recent appointment of the new Macmillan Patient Information Lead.
Boston-born Theresa Sullivan is excited to be joining the LJMC at a time when the provision of patient information has never been more important.
The national initiative to provide consistent, high-quality information is entering the next phase of the pilot scheme and Theresa is looking forward to taking the next steps as the project becomes more widespread.
“Patient information is a hot topic in healthcare at the moment,” she explained. “Patients need to be able to navigate the changing NHS and be aware of their options.
“With more choices than ever, they need to be well informed, whether it be evidence-based information about treatments or how to pay their mortgage while undergoing treatment. Well informed patients know what questions to ask and this gives them more control in their lives.”
Finding ways to help patients and healthcare professionals access information easily will be a key part of Theresa’s role. She will also liaise with staff both across the Cancer Centre and more widely, providing feedback to the National Cancer Action Team on the development of this project.
Theresa will also be undertaking a full review of the extensive list of existing LJMC publications, some of which will form part of the national project.
Having previously worked in hospice nursing in the USA and as a staff nurse on Ward 10 at Mount Vernon Hospital, Theresa’s interest in the field of patient information was sparked by a new role in the Chemotherapy department into which she moved last year.
Over the last few months, Theresa has also had a chance to work at the LJMC, helping out as duty healthcare professional to cover staff shortages.
“It took a special post to convince me to leave clinical nursing,” she explained.
“When I began working at the LJMC to help cover the healthcare professional’s role in the Drop-in centre, I was amazed by the amount and variety of high quality information that was now available. I realised that being part of the team at the LJMC means making a difference to patients and am excited to have the chance to be part of that team.”
“I’ll miss working with patients in a clinical setting,” she explained. “However, patients have always been an integral part of the development of the LJMC’s information publications, so I won’t be losing all contact.
Patients are so much at the centre of what we do, both in the clinical areas of the Cancer Centre and also the LJMC. Focussing on meeting their needs is what makes this job so challenging and worthwhile.”
Last updated: 22 March, 2011
