15 Minutes With...
Cat Wilde - Paediatric Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Cat Wilde is Paediatric Oncology Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist on Tiger Ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Tiger Ward is a POSCU (Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit) which means children in South London and surrounding areas who have cancer can receive care closer to home after their initial diagnosis. The ward provides day treatment and also has four inpatient beds.
The ward team consists of two clinical nurse specialists, nurses, a consultant and a dietitian.
What does your role involve on a day-to-day basis?
"A large part of our job is making sure that the children we care for don’t have to come in to hospital unnecessarily. That means that, day to day, myself and the other nurses on the ward are in regular contact with patient’s community teams and primary treatment centres such as the Royal Marsden Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
"As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, my role includes supporting patients and their families, through regular telephone liaison to offer reassurance for any concerns that they may have. We currently have approximately 50 patients on active treatment and I make contact with families on a daily basis to offer support and advice and our families know that we are on the end of the phone at any time if needed. My role also includes the support and professional development of other nurses and medical staff.
"Children attend Tiger Ward for day treatment too, which can include chemotherapy, blood transfusions, blood tests or general reviews. We also have four inpatient beds for when children become unwell and need to be admitted to the ward. Our patients do not see their GP whilst on chemotherapy and therefore have direct access to Tiger Ward with any ailments or concerns , this familiarity helps to minimise any worry the child or family member may feel coming in to hospital."
When did you decide you wanted to work in paediatric oncology?
"For as long as I can remember! When I was studying to become a paediatric nurse, I did the majority of my placement on a ward that included a POSCU (paediatric oncology shared care unit). I really enjoyed this experience and so once I qualified, I continued to work here for several years. In order to further my professional development, I then moved to the Teenager Cancer Trust in London and worked here for several years and completed specialist training and qualifications in paediatric oncology."
What do you believe to be the most important part of your job?
"To make sure that the people who come to the ward, whether they are here for a day or days at a time, have the easiest time possible. It’s about keeping stress levels down to a minimum and building trust in patients and families so that they know they can rely on you.
"Although some days are extremely hard, it is so rewarding to feel a part of someone’s journey. I am able to build very good relationships with the children and their families and there is high level of trust involved that allows you to form a very special bond.
"Parents can ring and ask me anything and they know I won’t judge them or think their question isn’t worth asking."
What attributes do you need to work in this area?
"You need to have an empathy for children and their families and to be an active listener and able to offer practical support and reassurance
"You need to be confident about working with and building relationships with whole families, rather than just individual patients."
What are Tiger Ward’s plans for the future?
"Tiger Ward will soon have its own Parent’s Kitchen, courtesy of Chartwell Cancer Trust, which we are all incredibly excited about. Again, it will help make the ward feel a bit more like home and hopefully help families relax whilst they are here.
"We also have our annual Easter party coming up. We invite all the children and their families and just have a bit of a party – children and families in this situation can sometimes feel quite lonely, so this is a great way for people to meet others in a similar situation to them."