Award-winning Jackie honoured for contribution to innovative treatment
01.07.2022
A health board staff member has been honoured by a charity enterprise for her role in developing innovative services which help prepare cancer patients for treatment.
Jackie Pottle, Macmillan allied health professional therapy cancer lead, based at Glan Clwyd Hospital, received her Emerging Leader award at a gala presentation event in Cardiff last week.
She has also been instrumental in developing support for cancer related fatigue, for people with all types of the disease.
The accolade was part of the Moondance Cancer Initiative, which celebrates work to combat the cancer within the Welsh NHS.
The event celebrated staff across NHS Wales, including partners who have maintained and innovated cancer services, despite the extraordinary circumstances of the last two years.
Jackie, who works at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, was delighted allied health professionals were recognised through her win.
She said: “I was very surprised to be shortlisted for the award, let alone win. It is great the work of allied health professionals has been showcased through these awards.
“I was pleased to have the chance to represent the amazing therapists who support cancer patients in many different settings.
“There are exciting developments happening across North Wales, with therapy-led prehabilitation services starting in the east of our region, development of cancer related fatigue services and looking at the role of therapists in supporting gynaecological cancer patients.
“I am so proud to be an allied health professional and look forward to continuing to highlight how their skills can help patients, carers and other colleagues.”
Allied health professionals are those staff who are concerned in the evidence-based support of patients and carers to self- manage their condition and live as healthily and as well as possible.
Jackie has helped develop a different way of safely managing ovarian cancer patients through their treatment journeys.
One innovative strand is prehabilitiation, preparing those women to be physically and mentally at their best prior to treatment, as well as helping them through it and out of the other side with all cancers.
Her work has also involved obtaining funding for the education of therapists, to give them more awareness of the kinds of support cancer patients need.
Acting executive director of therapies and health science Gareth Evans said: “The work Jackie and her team has done has been rightly recognised and we are all proud of her efforts.
“It’s important we treat cancer patients effectively and compassionately but, to do that, preparing them for the treatment, supporting them through it and helping them to manage their health afterwards is vital.
“It’s heartening to see the great work we do here in North Wales is being recognised further afield.”
Moondance Cancer Initiative exists to find, fund and fuel brilliant people and brave ideas to make Wales a world leader in cancer survival. There are currently 18 active projects funded by the Initiative across Wales.
Commenting on the Moondance Cancer Awards, Dr Megan Mathias, Chief Executive of Moondance Cancer Initiative, said: “The awards were created to both celebrate and thank the people who have dedicated their time to improving and pioneering detection, diagnosis and treatment pathways across cancer services in Wales.
“We hope by shining a spotlight on these people, we can help inspire tomorrow's solutions for survival. We’re so pleased that so many people from across health care in Wales came to celebrate with us.”
For more information, visit: https://moondance-cancer.wales/