The Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Service at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which specialises in the treatment of young cancer patients, is the first winner of the Kate Granger Award for Compassionate Care.
Dr Kate Granger is an award-winning blogger, NHS doctor and terminally ill cancer patient, who blogs and tweets regularly about her treatment and care in the NHS. In recognition of her inspiring work, NHS England and NHS Employers created the award to recognise an individual, team or organisation that has made a positive difference to patient care.
The TYA Service, which is supported by the Teenage Cancer Trust, CLIC Sargent and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, provides age-appropriate care for 16 to 24 year olds with a cancer diagnosis from throughout the West Midlands.
Teenage Cancer Trust lead nurse, Nicky Pettitt said: “We are humbled and delighted to have won the award, and it is made all the more meaningful as it was two of our patients who suggested we put ourselves forward for consideration. This in itself was recognition enough that our efforts to put the patient and their loved ones at the heart of all we do is acknowledged by those we aim to care for.
“We cannot change the bigger picture for our patients but we can make a huge difference with the smaller things that are often overlooked within health care. Our innovation is simple – young person first, any diagnosis or disease second.”
