Radiotherapy team shortlisted for prestigious national award for work to improve service for breast cancer patients
We are delighted to share that our Radiotherapy Team has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award for its innovative work implementing tattoo-free radiotherapy and improving the patient journey for patients receiving treatment for breast cancer.
The team, which is based at Royal Derby Hospital, has been shortlisted for the Health Service Journal's (HSJ) Partnership Award for the rollout of Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) - a very precise form of radiotherapy that eliminates the need for permanent, visible tattoos and marks to be placed on the patient's skin.
The team has already received high praise for its efforts implementing the treatment and in March this year took home the award for 'Most Effective Contribution To Improving Cancer Outcomes' in collaboration with VisionRT at the HSJ Partnership awards.
This new treatment means the team can still offer the same level of submillimetre degree precision but can do it completely mark and tattoo free, which is more beneficial to the patient.
Sue Marriott, Radiotherapy Service Manager, said the team is delighted to have made the shortlist, which showcases the innovative work the team is doing to improve cancer care and outcomes for patients.
Sue said: "I am absolutely delighted that we have been in partnership with VisionRT to introduce SGRT here at UHDB. The team has worked tirelessly to bring the benefits of this technology to Royal Derby Hospital with our patients at the very centre of our vision.
"This recognition will help to raise the profile of Therapeutic Radiography and I am incredibly proud of the great work that is being done here at the Trust."
Since June 2021, around 1,200 breast cancer patients have benefitted from SGRT and Lydia Kedziorek, Principal Treatment Superintendent, said the team is committed to offering the treatment to more patients, with the hope that its use can be expanded to treat different forms of cancer in the future.
Lydia said: "We have had our patients at the heart of our implementation and we have a strong partnership with Vision RT [the company that invented SGRT] and look forward to continuing our work with them to make radiotherapy more effective for our patients."
The team will attend the HSJ Awards ceremony on Thursday 16 November at Evolution London to find out if they have won.