The Christie Foundation Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22

Chair and Chief Executive’s statement

Welcome to our Annual Report and Accounts for 2021/2022. As the entire world has continued to be consumed with the effects of the COVID 19 global pandemic, The Christie has remained determined to ensure cancer care has safely continued throughout, and we are proud to celebrate another successful year - defined, but not dominated, by the pandemic. The latest wave of the COVID-19 outbreak once again affected each and every one of us and has been a very difficult and worrying time for our patients and our staff. And we applaud each and every member of our team at The Christie who have made patient care our highest priority. We have continued to ask great things of our staff where exceptional circumstances have become normal, and for that we couldn’t be more proud. Throughout the pandemic, The Christie has operated as a protected site, working under strict biosecurity measures to ensure we have been consistently able to treat our patients safely. We continue to be amazed by our patients, who have adapted to the necessary changes in the best spirit possible. We understand how difficult it has been to ask patients for example to restrict visiting, but everyone has responded with positivity and acceptance, remaining reassured by all we have done for the safety of both those in our care and our staff. Following the Government’s decision to end some COVID-19 restrictions in early 2022, we continue to take a approach to the easing of measures in our hospital. The vulnerability of our patients to the virus mean it is vital that we adopt this approach. But right now, we are very much business as usual for our patients, including those who have been affected by COVID-19. We also continue to provide some additional treatment for patients who may usually have received their cancer care in other hospitals across our network. Whilst we have plans in place to maintain services should a

further wave of COVID-19 infection take place, we are developing plans that will continue to support the sustained delivery of our services going forward as well as supporting the full recovery of cancer service across other care providers in our Greater Manchester system. Whilst it is important to recognise the impact that COVID-19 has had on our organisation, it is equally important to ensure that it does not overshadow another important year of progress and development for The Christie. We are continually striving to improve the care we offer to our patients and to develop our cancer research and education. We remain focused on our strategy. Our four key themes; Leading cancer care, The Christie experience, Local and specialist care, and Best outcomes remain as important as ever as we adapt to new circumstances and evolving demands. This Annual Report contains many examples of our pursuit of innovation and progression towards being a world-class cancer centre. This year we were delighted to open our new treatment centre in Macclesfield, where clinically appropriate patients can receive gold standard Christie care nearer to their own homes, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy and holistic support. Mainly funded through The Christie Charity, this development is a perfect example of how public support and our fundraisers play a key role in making what we do possible. Another building project continuing to take shape is our new research facility, currently known as the Paterson Redevelopment Project, which is now nearing completion on our Withington site. This will be a purpose-built biomedical cancer research facility, allowing us to develop our research capability like never before. Hand in hand with our partners, The University of Manchester and Cancer Research UK, this new

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