and reflexology is clearly being shown to be vastly appreciated by many cancer patients. In haematology where treatments for leukaemia and lymphoma including transplantation means that many patients are in hospitals for weeks or even months, the need for supportive complementary therapy and its effectiveness in patients is very strong indeed. Today we are also entering the era where appropriate scientific studies of complementary therapy will begin to show specific improvements in outcome for some patients.
The UCH Trust has had a strong interest for some years already in complementary therapy for its patients within cancer care. Much of this resource has had to be achieved through stakeholder, patient and relative donation and by the raising of sums through charitable funds. It is unlikely that this situation will change radically in the short term. We believe that support for this kind of therapy, outside what the NHS is able to do, will make an enormous difference to the quality of life for many patients. Stephen Rowley
Lead Cancer Nurse at UCH
Make no mistake; whilst more intensive and longer lasting cancer treatments improve cancer survival rates, chemotherapy and radiotherapy still have the potential to grossly debilitate patients physically and mentally. The challenge for us is to better support patients during their cancer journey. Nowadays, we have never been as well armed or informed to counter the negative side-effects of cancer treatments by using the positive effects of complementary therapies alongside conventional medicine. It’s a perfect combination. We are striving towards providing this model of care to all our cancer patients rather than to just a few – and to pave the road towards making the UCH model a NHS standard.
Helen Keane
Sister haematology/oncology day-care
Complementary therapies enhance our own well being which in turn allows us to provide a positive environment for the patients. They are a hugely supportive measure for my team of nurses.
Ali Finch
Sister Haematology
There’s a tendency for work to take over all aspects of life in our roles as nurses. I particularly find that juggling clinical work and managerial responsibilities can sometimes become overwhelming, leaving little space for ‘me’. Anxieties and feelings never really go away; they just go underground. Receiving reiki healing however takes care of the ‘me’ in my professional role by addressing those subliminal concerns - either bringing them into my consciousness with the strength to address them, or alternatively through offering a personal sense of resolve and calm. I value the support of the complementary therapy team and consider being able to access the services of all the team my safety net when things get tough. |
