UHNM receives national award for its blood cancer services
University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) has been awarded the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme Award for the outstanding quality of care provided to its myeloma patients.
Myeloma is the second most common form of blood cancer and affects around 17,500 people in the UK. It can often be controlled and symptoms can be relieved for prolonged periods but the disease inevitably comes back.
UHNM provides comprehensive myeloma care with dedicated myeloma clinics and a dedicated clinical nurse specialist as well as a support group for patients in the region.
Clinical Service Excellence Programme (CSEP) is a Myeloma UK programme supporting hospitals in delivering the best, patient-focused myeloma treatment and care. The programme aims to recognise and share excellence in myeloma care.
UHNM Dr Kamaraj Karunanithi, Consultant Haematologist who leads myeloma service at the Trust, said: “I am delighted we have been recognised with this award which acknowledges the high quality care we give to our myeloma patients. We have big plans for the future and I am hopeful we can continue to build on this success.”
Jess Turner, Clinical Practice Services Programme Manager at Myeloma UK, said: “Royal Stoke University Hospital groups together patients who were diagnosed at similar times for their appointments and treatments which helps them to naturally form their own support networks. In addition, anyone newly diagnosed is given the opportunity to speak to other patients for peer support, particularly those at a later stage of their myeloma journey.
“Dr Kamaraj Karunanithi and his team are passionate about providing patients with access to experimental drugs, and his dedication is reflected in the extensive number of clinical trials available at the hospital.
She added: “To be able to present this award to Royal Stoke University Hospital on our charity’s 25th anniversary has made this occasion even more special and has allowed us to reflect on and appreciate how much headway has been made in the treatment of myeloma over the past two decades.”
