Advocating for specialised cancer nursing

This year’s European Cancer Nursing Day event will take place in Edinburgh with the theme 'Driving innovation in Cancer Care' with a focus on the 5 Ps: Policy, Prevention, Personalised Care, Patient Involvement, and Practice Education.

Dr Wendy McInally, Senior Lecturer in the Open University's School of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, and Board Member of the European Oncology Nursing Society, is a widely recognised cancer nurse specialist. Here she highlights the importance building the right knowledge, skills, and experience to deliver complex cancer care.

I started with The Open University (OU) in Scotland in 2020 as the first academic for the OU’s new Children and Young People’s Nursing programme. 

As the largest university in the UK for undergraduate education and one of the world’s leading universities, the scope of the OU as public research university is significant. I am responsible for developing and implementing the future nurse curriculum, including the cancer agenda. 

Over three decades, I have built a comprehensive portfolio, specifically around children and young people with cancer which covers practice, education, and research. Although cancer in children and young people is rare compared to adults developing cancer, the evidence suggests that it is on the increase especially in young people. 

My own research is around young people’s experiences with skin cancer (melanoma) which affects approximately 14 young people per year in Scotland between the ages of 16 to 24 years. Young people with melanoma are often forgotten about in the mix of broad cancer research, because many of these patients might never be seen by a cancer specialist team. This disease is becoming a global concern as it now affects many young people and early diagnosis is crucial.

I began as a nurse member of the European Oncology Nursing Society in 2013 and became the Education Working Group Chair in 2020. I was elected as a board member and have since led on the European College for Cancer Nursing pilot nursing skills programme.

I am absolutely delighted to be hosting the European Cancer Nursing Day event in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s Oncology Nursing Society."

I am absolutely delighted to be hosting the European Cancer Nursing Day event on 18 May in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s Oncology Nursing Society, especially as the Scottish Government is expected to launch its new Cancer Strategy soon. Cancer care is indeed high on all the European government agendas with an emphasis on prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and late effects. 

As a previous Macmillan Cancer Nurse, I have a deep understanding of the ongoing need for professional education to support evidence-based care delivery. In supporting healthcare professionals caring for people living with and beyond cancer, I strive to encourage the introduction of innovative courses and resources. Two out of five people will be given a cancer diagnosis in Scotland and caring for people affected by cancer requires specific knowledge, skills, and experience to deliver often very complex care regimes.

Alongside other healthcare cancer professionals, nurses play an important role in caring for people affected by cancer. However, nursing and specifically cancer nursing is facing challenges arising from workforce shortages, under-investment in services, variable education opportunities and under representation in decision-making. 

The OU provides an approved nursing programme in all four fields of practice (adult, mental health, learning disability and child health) across all four nations of the UK. With health and social care devolved to the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the OU is uniquely placed to deliver nursing programmes at pre and post graduate level that address national needs while meeting the specific local and regional requirements of each nation within the UK.

Our nursing programmes have many distinct advantages for nursing students and employers alike. While studying with the OU, nursing students can remain in employment, which can materially reduce the financial hardship that some student nurses experience.

The Open University will continue to ensure nurses have the right preparation and ongoing support to deliver the population demands wherever they are based and that nurses are fit for purpose for today, tomorrow and beyond.