Overview
Dartford and Gravesham Trust alongside the Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance has been actively working on the Lung Optimisation Pathway and preparing for lung cancer screening implementation set for April 2026. This post supports the current Urgent Suspected Referral and CXR to CT Pathway improvement focus and there is an expectation that a proportion of this work would reduce when the Lung Cancer Screening implementation commences and the post transitions across. The NHS recognises that lung cancer is an area where early diagnosis is desperately needed to help improve survival.
If you are interested in enhancing and supporting Lung cancer pathways, achieving cancer waiting standards in particular the Faster Diagnosis Standard of confirming or excluding a Cancer Diagnosis by Day 28, and supporting the national strategic direction of 75% of all cancers being diagnosed at stage 1 and 2 by 2030, this post may be for you.
Responsibilities
* The Lung Cancer Support Nurse will work across both Lung Cancer and Lung Screening Pathways as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to support the delivery of high-quality care for patients within lung screening, suspected or confirmed lung cancer.
* The post holder will assist in coordinating care pathways, providing clinical expertise, emotional support, patient education, and playing a key role in the holistic care of patients across the lung cancer trajectory.
* They will liaise and effectively communicate with members of the multi-disciplinary team and allied health care professionals to provide coordinated high-quality patient-centred care, applying specialist expertise to all facets of care of patients.
* They will be able to make informed decisions within their own area and scope of professional practice to ensure agreed standards, objectives and targets are met.
* It is expected that the post holder will work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and will perform nurse-led clinics in the community diagnostic centre, located at Livingstone hospital and onsite at DVH.
* Provide nurse led clinics. Undertake comprehensive lung screening health risk assessments. Assess patients\' suitability to proceed to a diagnostic test, explain and take consent for the diagnostic test, and submit the diagnostic test referral form.
* Please see JD for a more detailed description of responsibilities.
Working for our organisation
* We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential.
* We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work.
* We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.
* We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.
* If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients.
* To support the Band 7 with Triage of Urgent Suspected Cancer referrals, diagnostic and treatment pathways that will ensure investigations are completed within the timeframe according to national standards and CT pathway.
* Provide nurse led clinics. Undertake comprehensive lung screening health risk assessments. Assess patients\' suitability to proceed to a diagnostic test, explain and take consent for the diagnostic test, and submit the diagnostic test referral form.
Our staff are our most valuable asset. We are committed to making staff feel appreciated, supported and included in the Trust\'s successes. Our mission is to be an outstanding place to work providing the very best care for our patients and excellent career opportunities for our staff. Everything we do is guided by our core values and behaviours, identified by our staff and embedded throughout the organisation.
We have the highest CQC rating of all Acute NHS Trusts in Kent and Medway (Good). The CQC highlighted that managers promoted a positive culture that supported, valued staff and created a sense of common purpose based upon shared values.
The Trust provides services at Darent Valley Hospital and Queen Mary\'s Hospital, for a local population of over 500,000 people. We invite you to #joinourfamily.
Please note this vacancy may close earlier than stated to aid efficient processing of applications. To ensure your application will be considered please submit it at your earliest convenience. If you have not heard from us within 21 days of the closing date please assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is a smoke free organisation. To improve public health smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere on the hospital site.
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