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Jamie Hailstone is a freelance journalist and author, who has also contributed to numerous national business titles including Utility Week, the Municipal Journal, Environment Journal and consumer titles such as Classic Rock.
November 7, 2018

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Asbestos

Specialist nurse for rare asbestos-related cancer appointed

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed the first specialist nurse for a rare asbestos-related cancer in the country.

Samantha WestbrookSamantha Westbrook recently took up the role of peritoneal mesothelioma clinical nurse specialist at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, with the funding for the role being provided by national charity, Mesothelioma UK.

Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital is the largest centre in the world for treating patients with peritoneal malignancies, including peritoneal mesothelioma, which is an extremely rare asbestos-related cancer arising from the peritoneum, or lining of the abdomen.

In her new role, Ms Westbrook will work alongside the nationwide peritoneal malignancy multi-disciplinary team to support, advise and signpost peritoneal mesothelioma patients and their families from across the UK.

She will also help to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments not currently commissioned by the NHS.

“I’m bringing experience in critical care, lung cancer and oncology to this new role and am really looking forward to specialising in this particular area,’ said Ms Westbrook.

“My appointment will enable me to fully support peritoneal mesothelioma patients in a ‘key worker’ capacity to ensure that they get the best attention possible.

“I’m also interested in looking at the research side of the patient diagnosis and journey, and seeing how this data can help to influence my role and our approach to treating peritoneal mesothelioma over time.”

Figures published last week by the Health and Safety Executive show there were 2,595 mesothelioma deaths in 2016, with a similar number of lung cancer deaths linked to past exposures to asbestos

The figures also revealed there have been 20,000 new cases of breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by work each year on average over the last three years according to self-reported estimates from the Labour Force Survey.

Julie Dawes, Chief Nurse at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been able to appoint Samantha to this new role and we are very grateful to Mesothelioma UK for providing the funding to make it happen.

“Having the UK’s first specialist nurse in this particular form of cancer will make a big difference not only for patients in Hampshire, but across the entire country.”

Liz Darlison, Mesothelioma UK’s Head of Services, added: “Mesothelioma UK is committed to doing all that we can to improve services and access to treatment and care for those affected by Peritoneal Mesothelioma.

“Appointing Samantha into this post is a major step that we are delighted to reach and we are so thankful for all the Mesothelioma UK supporters whose generation donations have made this possible.

“Samantha will be working closely with the charity’s team of 20 nurses who are based all over the UK to ensure, regardless of where you live, if you are affected by peritoneal mesothelioma you will have access to the best treatment and care available.”

What makes us susceptible to burnout?

In this episode  of the Safety & Health Podcast, ‘Burnout, stress and being human’, Heather Beach is joined by Stacy Thomson to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.

We provide an insight on how to tackle burnout and why mental health is such a taboo subject, particularly in the workplace.

stress

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