Sheffield consultant nurse up for top award

Professor Diana Greenfield, based at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, was nominated by colleagues in the innovation excellence award category at the Macmillan Excellence Awards.

The category celebrates the people whose vision and commitment has made a lasting difference to the quality of services offered to people affected by cancer.

Professor Greenfield won praise for being driven by a desire to keep patients at the heart of her work and for pioneering the establishment of a nurse-led team who are driving forward improvements to services.

She is involved with the Living With and Beyond Cancer team, which monitors for any possible late or long-term consequences of cancer treatment, both emotional and medical.

Prof Greenfield said: “The Living With and Beyond Cancer team is a testament to the success of modern cancer treatment, as more people are living with and beyond cancer than ever before.

“But very often the consequences of having had cancer treatment are not always what people might think.

“People find it hard to explain how they feel to those around them and often don’t realise that the healing process can take weeks, months and even years.

“I do the job I do because I care passionately that people with cancer deserve to get the very best care they can possibly get.

“We’ve still got a huge way to go to ensure we all provide patient-centred care.”

Prof Hilary Chapman, chief nurse for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am delighted that Diana has been recognised by Macmillan in these professional awards.

“Diana is a fantastic ambassador for patients living with and beyond cancer, and has led the way in pioneering changes that have allowed even more cancer patients to continue to receive high quality care and treatment in an era of improved survival rates.

“Her hard work and dedication are a credit to the Trust, her team and her patients.”

A surprise celebrity guest will be hosting the Macmillan Excellence Awards ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on Thursday, November 17.

The awards, now in their fifth year, recognise pioneering cancer care teams and individuals across the country.