Awards celebrate people who make a difference to cancer patients

People who make a difference to patients affected by cancer across the North East and North Cumbria have been celebrated at the Northern Cancer Alliance (NCA) Awards 2025.

The awards recognised individuals, teams and services which have made a significant contribution to transforming cancer services. Five winners were chosen in four categories:

• Clinical Leadership
• Championing the Patient Voice
• Quality Improvement & Innovation
• Going the Extra Mile

The awards were announced at NCA’s annual conference with the theme ‘Collaborating to improve cancer care’. They were presented by Dr Ian Pedley, Clinical Director for Secondary Care at NCA, and Prof Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England.

Dr Pedley said: “Every day across the North East and North Cumbria, countless numbers of people are making a difference to patients with cancer, whether that be in a hospital, GP practice, in their own homes or in communities.

“We were overwhelmed by the record number of nominations we received this year which represented the breadth and quality of services. This is truly inspirational and credit to our whole cancer workforce, regardless of where they work, and I’d like to pay tribute to them all.

“It was an incredibly difficult decision selecting the winners and I, on behalf of the NCA, would like to congratulate them and thank them for the dedication and commitment they show to our patients.

“We look forward to building on this exceptional work and creating opportunities to share and learn across the system.”

The winners were:

Clinical Leadership – Dr Ruth Sharrock and the HIVE Team, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Judges recognised Ruth, a respiratory consultant, as an ‘exemplary clinical leader’. She is the Clinical Lead for the HIVE Team*, an innovative project aiming to enable equitable access to lung cancer pathways for people with multiple and complex needs. They praised Ruth’s dedication to patient care, innovative and solution-focused thinking, and her commitment to taking into account patients’ individuals needs which has resulted in improved clinical outcomes.

* The ‘hive mind’ analogy refers to the thoughts of a group of people considered together with a common purpose.

Championing the Patient Voice – Living With Cancer Project Team, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

The project was launched last year in response to the growing number of people living with treatable but not curable cancer. It brings patients, carers, and professionals together to reimagine what supportive care should look like.

Judges acknowledged that the team has ’embedded the patient voice in every element of design, delivery, and decision-making’ and is centred on ‘changing culture to match the changing prognosis for people living with cancer’.

Quality Improvement & Innovation – Thoracic Surgical Service, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The team has introduced a community physiotherapist and discharge facilitator to enable patients to leave hospital the day after having surgery to remove part, or all, of a diseased or damaged lung. The team visits patients at home a day after leaving hospital, again within the first week with ongoing weekly visits while required.

Judges recognised that initial feedback from patients and relatives about the service has been ‘overwhelmingly positive’ and that the new roles have enabled the team to reduce patients’ length of stay in hospital and improved ongoing support to them at home.

Going the Extra Mile (joint winner) – Tammie Dobie, Cancer Care Co-ordinator, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Tammie has been instrumental in setting up, planning and delivering the lung cancer screening programme in North Cumbria.

Judges praised her ‘positive and can-do attitude’ and that she always ‘goes above and beyond what would be expected of her in her role’. They also acknowledged her work to raise awareness of the programme among people who typically may struggle to engage.

Going the Extra Mile (joint winner) – Maureen Elliott, Live Well with Cancer

Maureen, a former cancer nurse specialist with more than 30 years’ experience, set up Live Well with Cancer in 2019. It is a charity based in North Shields which empowers anyone affected by cancer to improve their health and wellbeing.

Judges acknowledged that Maureen has a ‘genuine gift and passion to improve cancer patients’ health and wellbeing’ and she continuously demonstrates ’empathy, initiative, and unwavering commitment’ to the charity.

NCA’s conference brought together partners from primary and secondary care and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector and patients and carers to share innovations and experience and plan for the future.