Nursing leaders highlight need for cancer care innovation

Over 85 nurses from around Europe will meet to debate innovative ways to develop cancer nursing, at a celebration in Scotland.

The 2023 European Cancer Nursing Day celebrations will take place in Edinburgh on 18 May, co-hosted by The Open University (OU), with the theme ‘Driving innovation in Cancer Care’. 

The co-hosts for the European Cancer Nursing Day (ECND) event at the Royal Society of Edinburgh are the UK Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS), Edinburgh Napier University, and the OU. There will be a focus on Policy, Prevention, Personalised Care, Patient Involvement, and Practice Education.

Dr Wendy McInally, Senior Lecturer in the OU’s School of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care and Board Member of European Oncology Nursing Society, said:

“The Open University is delighted to co-host this prestigious event in Scotland. European Cancer Nursing Day celebrates the positive impact that cancer nurses have on the quality of cancer care across Europe.

“As a previous Macmillan Cancer Nurse, I strive to encourage innovative courses and resources for nurses who play an important role in caring for people affected by cancer. 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.”

It is the first time a collaborative event to celebrate ECND that has been developed, with the involvement of both European and national societies as well as the OU and Edinburgh Napier University. Cancer care is high on the Scottish public agenda with early diagnosis and prevention being key.

Dr Karen Campbell, Associate Professor, Edinburgh Napier University, said:

“As a longstanding Macmillan Cancer Support Professional at ENU and holding the position of President Elect for UKONS, I feel privileged to cohost this event in our capital city Edinburgh. This is a very important time for Scotland specifically, with the launch of a new Cancer Strategy and the UKONS work on Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development framework. This is an important time in the UK to drive forward innovations to support prevention, earlier diagnosis, timely treatment and recovery for individuals and family’s experiencing cancer”.

The OU is also supporting early career nurses to attend the event, offering funded places for nursing students from both universities in attendance who wish to pursue a career in cancer nursing.

The OU provides a nursing programme in all four fields of practice (adult, mental health, learning disability and child health) across all four nations of the UK. In Scotland, the funded programme includes routes for those already working in healthcare support worker roles to become registered nurses.

12 May 2023