UKONS 2016 | Providing supportive care for cancer patients through a choir

Rosalyn Fox, Macmillan secondary breast cancer nurse specialist of the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK, talks about a choir she started at the Christie Hospital in Manchester for patients, staff and carers. Initially, she secured funding for 6 months and had to prove if there were any beneficial to patients. To do this she conducted a small order type study looking at the perceived benefits to patients and staff. The results were overwhelmingly positive: 100% felt that they were happier since joining, and the majority claimed improved emotional and physical well being, and improved breathing. Consequently she has secured funding and increased meeting times, as well as joining up with another centre. As it is so simple to set up, cost effective and has such enormous benefits to large numbers of people, she discusses her desire to roll it out to other hospitals. Recorded at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), held in Brighton, UK.