The United Kingdom has the highest incidence of malignant mesothelioma in the world, with roughly 2,700 people diagnosed with the rare and fatal form of the disease every year. In response to the overwhelming rate of illnesses arising from exposure to asbestos, the nation has established a treatment program that relies heavily on a network of clinical nurse specialists.
Widower Funds Mesothelioma Clinical Nurse Specialist
Recently a widower who lost his wife to mesothelioma expressed his appreciation for the care provided by these professionals by funding an additional nurse specialist position for the next two years. The position will be based in the West Midlands, and Sophie Phillips will be the very first clinical nurse specialist dedicated to caring for people diagnosed with the disease. The area sees approximately six dozen new mesothelioma patients diagnosed each year.
Ms. Phillips will be the 26th mesothelioma nurse specialist working under the Mesothelioma UK charity. All of the nurses are based within NHS hospitals, and are tasked with providing education, treatment and compassionate care to those diagnosed with the disease. Ms. Phillips has worked with cancer patients for 15 years, with her responsibilities including pre-diagnosis, treatment and palliative care. Her position will be with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, though she will also continue working part-time with lung cancer patients at Macmillan Cancer Support part-time.
Mesothelioma Clinical Nurse Specialist Will Provide Access to Resources
Speaking of her role, Ms. Phillips spoke directly to the special needs of those diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, saying, “I feel that mesothelioma patients often have quite unique questions and need a bit of specialist support and I’m looking forward to providing this in my new role to people in the West Midlands.” Her essential role, which will include referring patients to clinical trials where appropriate, was funded by a contribution from the husband of Janet Blunt, who died in 2014 from the rare disease.
John Blunt’s private donation is being funded in part by the settlement that the family received after his wife’s diagnosis. Speaking of the position, he said, “I’m so pleased that other families affected by asbestos-related illnesses can now be offered specialist nursing help within the West Midlands, reducing the need for extensive travel.”
If you have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, then you know how essential nursing care is to your treatment journey. For information about care available to you, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
