Gill
"Patients generally tolerate treatment well, and they need to know they don’t have to do it alone."
Gill
"We're a team of staff nurses and Health Care Assistants who help to run the supportive network for patients during their radiotherapy treatment.
Most of us have been nursing for a number of years. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience.
We help patients with things like skin care, pain control, and general advice. To us the problems are relatively easy to solve but to patients they are viewed as a big deal. A quick chat can easily put someones mind at rest.
One humorous moment was when a patient was having his chest treated and he was asked to undress so we could see and assess his treatment site (his chest) - and when we went round the curtains he was totally naked. We only needed to see the area that was being treated with radiotherapy (his chest)!
I tell you what, I’ve had relatives come the radiotherapy department, and I don't know, I just felt like I wanted to be a part of it. Because they were so good…. My other half had treatment here, and… I’ve seen it from the other side.
Initially it brought memories back. But everyone was great.
Looking after patients having radiotherapy is a very rewarding job. We are only a small part of a very specialist team.
Every year we see new developments in treatments and a reduction in side effects. Patients generally tolerate treatment well, and they need to know they don’t have to do it alone. "
