Current Priorities

Scottish Cancer Nurse Consultant/Lead Nurse Group: an update from Lynn Adams and Mhairi SimpsonWe are both members of the Scottish Cancer Nurse Consultant/Lead Nurse Group. The group was established in 2001, and it brings together the Nurse Consultants and Lead Cancer Nurses from each of the 14 Health Board areas in Scotland plus the NHS Education for Scotland Programme Director for Cancer Education and the Macmillan Cancer Support, Learning and Development Manager for Scotland. The aims are to:1. Lead, influence and respond to national and regional policy2. Work collaboratively to ensure the provision of evidence-based cancer care through the three regional cancer networks in the north, west and south east of Scotland3. Create a supportive environment for sharing and networking4. Take forward the development of new models of cancer care to meet the rapidly changing healthcare needs in Scotland5. Implement national policies in a consistent manner across ScotlandThe group has established links with the Scottish Government and NHS Education for Scotland and its members are key contributors to national polices and frameworks. Current areas of work include implementation of Better Cancer Care (the national cancer plan for Scotland) and Living and Dying Well (the national action plan for palliative and end-of-life care in Scotland). Members are also involved in the implementation of the NHS Education for Scotland, Professional and Continuing Development Frameworks for Cancer Care, and the forthcoming publication of the capability framework for non-medical radiotherapy reviews. Addressing the needs of people surviving cancer is a key priority for Scotland, and two members of the group have the task of taking this agenda forward. UKONS has already shown its commitment to the topic, with the founding of its Living With and Beyond Cancer Forum – an excellent example of consistency of effort across the four countries of the UK to achieve the best possible care for people affected by cancer.You may also wish to read the Scottish Government’s Advanced Practice Toolkit, which assists in the achievement of consistency, and in equity of advanced cancer practice roles. For more information please click here http://www.advancedpractice.scot.nhs.uk/home.aspx