Ceri Hogg is a research clinical nurse specialist, CCLG member and co-chair of the national Children’s Cancer Research Nurses Group (CCRNG). Here, she tells us what being part of CCLG’s professional community means to her and the benefits it brings.
My CCLG membership initially started with the Children and Young Person Cancer Nurse (CYPCN) working group, where discussions surrounding improving care, innovative practices and nurse education could be had. The group helped me feel included in wider national discussions to improve and develop patient care, something which had massive advantages in terms of professional and personal support.
I now benefit from being a part of three groups that sit within CCLG, including the Children’s Cancer Research Nurse group (CCRNG). Across the UK, there are 21 principal treatment centres (PTCs) and over 70 nurses nationally who hold the title of research nurse and we cover haematology, oncology, teenage and young adult (TYA) cancer and bone marrow transplant (BMT). The group has at least one representative from each PTC and one of the wonderful things about the group is that we all have various levels of research experience and are very supportive of each other.
Historically, this group provides a forum for children’s cancer research nurses to be able to offer peer support and share information and working practices. Some areas only have one research nurse covering the PTC, so this network is vital. We try and meet twice a year, which is currently virtually, but we hope to change this soon.
Being a member of CCLG and part of a wider national group has allowed me to link up with professionals from all different disciplines.
As clinical trials become more complex and need answers to various questions, the demands on the research nurse’s organisation and coordination of studies also increase. As research nurses, we are often nurse, educator and researcher all rolled into one. Having access to a wide number of groups helps to facilitate all these roles, which is vital for the job and supporting patients with any queries they may have during their clinical trial.
Colleague support is invaluable and being part of a CCLG group means having a helpful and welcoming environment for colleagues to come together nationally, so that assistance and advice can be shared with those who are facing similar challenges. This means that we can identify and discuss issues around study set-up and provision, to help find resolutions. This is something which would be very difficult if these groups didn’t exist.
CCLG also ensures that members have access to the latest information and resources available and holds various education days and a yearly conference, which is a great way to meet and catch up with colleagues. This always has a varied agenda, including updates on research trials and improvements in patient care, to help equip us as professionals to be able to best support all our patients and families.
Historically, this group provides a forum for children’s cancer research nurses to be able to offer peer support and share information and working practices.
Being a member of CCLG and part of a wider national group has allowed me to link up with professionals from all different disciplines, and as somebody who’s setting up an early phase service, this has been vital.
And, as well as the above, it’s also given me the opportunity to be a part of the Editorial Board for this magazine, which promotes important stories that families will benefit from. This is a great team to be a part of and we all bring something different to our discussions. There’s a lot of hard work that goes on in producing the magazine and to be a small part of this group, and able to make a difference to so many families through it, is amazing.
From Contact magazine issue 97 - Winter 2022
