5 July 2017

Mr Andy Elves, Consultant Urologist; Sheena Khanduri, Clinical Lead for Cancer Services and Richard Pope, Clinical Director for Dynamic Health Systems, who helped develop the app, with the award.

An interactive App developed to help cancer patients at Shropshire’s two acute hospitals has won a prestigious national Patient Safety Award.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford, picked up the Cancer Care Award for creating an App that helps patients understand and monitor the side effects of chemotherapy treatment and the long-term follow-up of prostate cancer.

The award was presented to Trust representatives at a gala dinner in Manchester last night (4 July 2017). The Patient Safety Awards are among the most celebrated in UK Healthcare.

The App was funded by the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund and supported by out-of-hours medical service Shropdoc. It was launched at RSH in December 2016.

Dr Edwin Borman, Medical Director at SaTH, said: “To win this award is a great honour for SaTH and real recognition both of the innovative and hard work of the teams who have been involved in the app’s development and the very real improvements in care it already is providing for our patients.”

Dr Sheena Khanduri, Clinical Leader for Cancer Services at SaTH, who was amongst those who travelled to Manchester for the ceremony, said: “We are delighted and honoured to have won the National Patient Safety Award.

“The App is packed with important information about chemotherapy and advice about when to contact the helpline to ensure patients are seen at the earliest opportunity. It is hoped the technological advance will result in fewer chemotherapy patients being admitted to hospital as an emergency.

“To be told you have cancer and will need chemotherapy is very frightening, and that is why our hospitals are always looking to improve the care we provide for patients and their families.

“The App provides information and importantly it tells a patient when they need to contact us and how they can do so. It empowers patients to take control of their treatment and its effects and will improve access to the right care when needed.”

Naomi Atkin, Executive Officer of the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, added: “This is a fantastic honour. The app is a fantastic project and one we have been delighted to support.”