The voice for cancer patients
Described by her colleagues as ‘the voice for cancer services and cancer patients in the region’, Sian Dennison talks about her amazing 30-year career and her recent national award.
In July this year, in recognition of her positive, caring approach and enabling a progressive culture within her team, Sian was awarded the ‘Excellence in Cancer Care Award’ at the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards held incelebration of the 70thbirthday of the NHS. The Health Select Committee tasked the nation’s MPs with finding and nominating those individuals or teams they thought had made the biggest improvements to health services in their constituencies.Sian’s name was put forward to local Plymouth MPs by her nursing team, the deputy director of nursing and the chief executive of University Hospitals Plymouth. She went on to win the regional award, out ofmore than 750 nominations, before being announced the overall winner in her category at a prestigious ceremony in London.Delighted to receive her award, Sian said: “It’s not just about me. To me, this award is about the team I work with … their passion, dedication and their support to improve patient care and make a difference.”
Sian has been nursing for over 30 years and is currently head of nursing (cancer and end-of-life) at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. Her achievements during her 24 years at Derriford Hospital are simply staggering. One major project, led by Sian and funded by the Hospital Trust Charity and the Plymouth and Cornwall Cancer Fund, of which Sian is vice-chair,was the sympathetic refurbishment of several end-of-life rooms in Derriford Hospital, to enable terminally ill patients to be as peaceful and comfortable as possible. This included making the rooms less clinical by introducing softer lighting and pastel colours, and more relaxing chairs for carers. Sian has also established several cancer patient support groups and has effectively led her team to enable these groups to develop. As part of an end-of-life project, the nursing team and the hospital pastoral teamtogether founded ‘Pastoral Friends’, a group of dedicated volunteers who spend treasured time with patients at the end of their life, but who also provide important pastoral support to nursing staff.
Perhaps the most significant achievement is that of creating development posts for nurses to specialise in cancer nursing, and together with her team, Sian has developed a course with the University of Plymouth, so that instead of having to go to Bristol to study, nurses can now study locally.
Welsh-born Sian began her nursing training in Gloucester in 1981, then after a couple of years’ travelling around Australasia, she worked for a while as a cancer nurse in Australia. On returning home to Wales, she trained further and then moved to London to study oncology at the Royal Marsden Hospital, where she also attained a master’s degree in cancer nursing. In 1994, she relocated to Plymouth, taking a job as a cancer nurse specialist in Freedom Fields Hospital, where she was one of the first two cancer nurse specialists within the trust (there are now over 30), supporting patients along their journey. She later became the lead in cancer nursing in the trust and also worked for the primary care trust for four years before becoming the trust cancer services manager and head of cancer and end-of-life care at Derriford. Sian loves her job as it is varied and enjoyable, sometimes sad but very rewarding. For her, it is the building of relationships that is so special, and helping, being kind and listening are what makes a real difference to someone.
- has also shown great courage in her fundraising efforts over the years and her achievements know no bounds – she climbed the Matterhorn to raise money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and for MacMillan Cancer Support she almost made it to the top of Mont Blanc and took part in the London Marathon! Two years ago, she joined the Tamar and Tavy Gig Club, never having sat in a boat before, and now trains weekly and has competed in the Isles of Scilly World Pilot Gig Championships. She has lived in Tavistock for 20 years and says she loves living so close to the moor where she can exercise her dog and enjoy the outdoors - a great way to relax after a busy day at work.
Kaye Rogers