How do you solve a problem like the cancer workforce?

As part of our transforming Macmillan together, we are looking at how the cancer workforce can be better supported to help people with cancer get the support they need.

Niks Kent is a partnership manager at Macmillan. She is leading a team of colleagues who are trying to answer the big questions about the future cancer workforce, these include:

• What will it take to enhance and develop the workforce delivering care for people living with cancer?
• Where should Macmillan focus to make the most impact?

We want every person with cancer in the UK to have equal access to the best, specialist and timely cancer care every step of the way. From prevention, diagnosis, all the way through to palliative and end of life care.

Too many people may feel helpless when it comes to the care that they are receiving but it doesn’t have to be this way.

We want people with cancer to feel confident and empowered about their care, in turn improving quality of life and living longer healthier lives.

As part of our plans to transform Macmillan, we are looking at where we can really add value. In terms of enhancing and developing the workforce, knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours are a big part of this.

We’ve been thinking about how we can develop not only the skills of the cancer workforce but everyone involved in a person’s care – social care staff, voluntary caregivers and also people with cancer.

We are also looking at barriers that exist in both health and social care and how we break them down. We’re considering how technology might be able to empower people with cancer to take more control of their journey.

It’s important to note how expansive the topic of workforce is so we’re currently thinking in broad terms before narrowing our focus – but always with the person living with cancer at the heart our decisions.

Adrienne Betteley is a Strategic Advisor at Macmillan who has been through cancer twice.

She is working alongside Niks to help come up with the best answers. Here she explains her experiences and hopes.

I have had cancer twice and though in many ways I have received great care, there are things that I would have changed.

As we look ahead, I think it’s so important that we enable people to feel in control of their cancer care and get to choose who is a part of it.

I understand that this may not be something everyone wants or is able to do but for me, I really would’ve appreciated the choice.

Not only does cancer affect the person going through it but it affects family and friends too. I think it would’ve been great if my family could have been given more information and support to essentially be a part of my care team.

Finally, I want to see people treated consistently with dignity, respect and empathy. If we can get to this, going through cancer would be a far less isolating and daunting place.