NURSING teams from Clatterbridge Cancer Centre are on the shortlist for two high profile awards recognising innovations in treatment.

Clatterbridge in the community team and the immunotherapy team are in the running for honours in this year's national Nursing Times Awards, one of the most high profile ceremonies in the health profession.

Clatterbridge in the Community sees specialist nurses visiting patients at work to administer treatment, saving people the time and stress of visiting clinics for treatment.

It has been running for four years and began with patients being treated at home. It was extended last year to include treatment in the workplace.

The team, from the Wirral based hospital Trust, have been named as finalists in the Nursing in the Community category.

Sophia Bourne, chemotherapy matron, said: "Getting back to work is a really important part of the treatment journey for many of our patients and we want to do everything we can to help them do that while they are still receiving vital treatment in a safe and comfortable environment.

"For our work to be recognised in this way is a huge honour for the entire team and we are very proud to be a finalist."

The Immunotherapy Team has set up a dedicated service to help manage the side effects of immunotherapy and dedicated nurses are on hand to help patients suffering from toxicity as a result of the treatment.

The team has been named as finalists in the Cancer Nursing category.

Immunotherapy is still a relatively new treatment for cancer and is primarily used for metastatic melanoma, head and neck cancers, non-small-cell lung carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma.

Trudy-Jane Guinan, immunotherapy lead nurse, said: "A vital part of my role is to co-ordinate services, including toxicity management.

"This is done in addition to providing education and training to all staff involved in the delivery of Immuno-oncology treatments.

"The overall aim is to provide early intervention and treatment, hopefully reducing the impact that toxicities can have on a patient’s overall treatment journey.

"To be recognised for this work is fantastic and we are all very proud."

The winners of the RCNi Nurse Awards will be announced on October 30 at the Grosvenor House in London.