My CNS Matters

Leukaemia Care believes that the care and support provided by Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are vital for leukaemia patients. Yet only 28.2%* of UK Trusts said they had leukaemia specific CNSs and only 31%* of patients could get enough emotional support at home from community or voluntary services after their treatment. Rates of holistic care decline further for patients diagnosed with chronic (slower progressing) compared to an acute (faster progressing) leukaemia diagnosis.

In order to tackle the disparities in holistic care, Leukaemia Care has under taken preliminary research to fully understand the needs of leukaemia patients and examine the barriers that contribute to a patient accessing a CNS. Based on our findings we believe the following recommendations must be made a priority.

My CNS Matters campaign aims

Leukaemia Care’s My CNS Matters campaign aims to remove existing barriers to CNS care by implementing the following:

• Ensure access to support is independent of cancer type or treatment status.
• Guarantee that key workers or points of contact are not only known to the individual but also accessible.
• Provide consistency with clearer definitions of care teams’ individual roles and duties, a supportive non-medical and administrative team, and clear access/entry and exit routes into the service.
• Foster trust in both medical and non-medical staff to support patients’ holistic needs.
• Improve recognition and value of the CNS’s skills.
• Ensure individuals with direct patient contact and/or triaging have appropriate condition-specific knowledge.
• Maximise team working, both internally within the NHS and externally.
• Emphasize managing expectations and patient empowerment as keys to cost-effective support delivery.

Read our report showcasing the research Leukaemia Care has conducted to highlight the necessary changes required to improve holistic care for leukaemia patients.

My CNS Matters report