We are The Christie magazine November 2024

News in brief

The Christie celebrates fifth anniversary of symptom monitoring service 2024 marks the fifth year of our electronic patient-recorded outcome measures (ePROMs) service, called MyChristie-MyHealth. ePROMs are online questionnaires that patients fill in to report their symptoms, side effects and quality of life. Over 20,000 patients, across 30 different services, have filled in over 60,000 ePROMs since 2019. The Christie is the first NHS Trust in the UK to routinely introduce cancer symptom management questionnaires on such a large scale. A large portion of the funding came from donations to The Christie Charity. The service was also awarded the Greater Manchester Cancer Innovation Award in 2022.

News in brief

Winter vaccination campaign underway

GET VACCINATED GET WINTER STRONG

The Christie’s annual seasonal vaccination campaign began on Thursday 3 October, with a drive for staff to get their flu and COVID-19 jabs. As you may see around the building, some of our staff are currently starring in the promotion of the campaign. They volunteered to have their pictures taken for posters and other marketing materials, with a quote about why getting vaccinated is important to them. Getting vaccinated helps our staff to protect themselves, and our patients, from flu and COVID-19 during this busy winter period when these viruses are common. Learn more in the interview with vaccinator Rhona Johnson on page 6. Not had your flu or COVID-19 jabs yet? Visit nhs.uk/wintervaccinations to book now.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others. It’s a way to show you care about your community, especially since some people can’t get vaccinated and rely on others for protection. By getting vaccinated, you’re helping to keep everyone safe.

Freya Macfarlane Engagement and organisational development specialist

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inpatient survey results In August, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published the results of the 2023 national inpatient survey, ranking The Christie amongst the top NHS Trusts in England. The survey gathered responses from 651 Christie patients, who rated their overall hospital experience 9.1 out of 10, well above the national average. Questions in the survey covered topics such as: hospital admission and discharge, the hospital and ward environment, care and treatment, communication with staff, involvement in decisions, and being treated with respect and dignity. Patients star in new Christie video We recently produced a new film, We are The Christie, that features some of our patients from Manchester and the North West. The film showcases the range of services provided at The Christie and highlights the impact on patients' lives. Participants include BBC sports presenter Chris Latchem, drag artist Jay Swinnerton, midwife Claudia Boardman, and patient advocate Winston Carrington, alongside 24 clinical and non-clinical staff. The video is being used at presentations and conferences, with translations for international audiences.

Help keep yourself and the people you care for safe this autumn and winter. Get your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. For more information visit www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations Christie colleagues can see the latest information and book a jab via HIVE.

VR therapy for children having radiotherapy

The Christie is the first hospital in the UK to use virtual reality (VR) distraction therapy for children and young people undergoing radiotherapy. This is part of a two year project that aims to reduce anxiety related to cancer treatment. The VR headset, designed for ages 7-16, has been used over 20 times for procedures like cannulation, injections, and dressing changes, as well as radiotherapy. Patients select face emojis before and after treatment to measure anxiety levels. The data collected will help assess the impact of VR on patient experiences during their cancer treatment journey.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all involved and if you'd like to watch the film, please visit The Christie YouTube channel: youtube.com/ @TheChristieNHS.

If you’d like to read more about these stories, please visit: christie.nhs.uk/news

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