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A specialised service which supports the diagnosis and treatment of a serious side-effect of late-stage cancer has been shortlisted for several prestigious national awards.

Staff from The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC) Service are finalists in the Nursing Times Awards, Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards and the Macmillan Professionals Excellence Awards for their inspirational work helping people whose cancer has spread and is at risk of causing irreversible damage to their spinal cord.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre operates the only MSCC service in the UK to run seven days a week and to have a specialist team of different health professionals specifically dedicated to caring for people with spinal cord compressions. This is important for patients as the longer it takes for MSCC to be diagnosed and treated, the more likely it is to cause permanent damage to a patient’s mobility and their bladder and bowel control.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s MSCC Service, is also the only service of its kind in the country that accepts referrals for suspected MSCC, as well as confirmed cases. The team works closely with staff in other hospitals across the region, including spinal surgeons at The Walton Centre.

Symptoms of MSCC can include severe back pain and loss of feeling in the limbs and patients often arrive in A&E departments to try and find out what’s wrong. The unique service means A&E staff can easily get advice from Clatterbridge’s specialist team and refer patients who may be showing signs of MSCC, whilst waiting for a confirmed diagnosis. This saves vital hours and ensures the patient can be treated quickly, mostly with radiotherapy, if MSCC is confirmed.

Patients who are diagnosed and treated in time through the service stay more mobile, live longer and enjoy a better quality of life.

Kate Parker, MSCC Service Lead for The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, says: “I’m delighted that the Nursing Times, Macmillan Professionals Excellence Awards and HSJ Awards, which showcase the best and most innovative health care services in the country, have shortlisted us.

“Our dedicated and specialised team work alongside other professionals from across the region to make sure patients with a diagnosed or suspected MSCC receive the care and treatment they need as quickly as possible. It’s an honour to work alongside them and be considered for these awards.”

Dr Liz Bishop is Chief Executive of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and Senior Responsible Officer for Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance. She says: “We’re delighted that our MSCC Service has been recognised by being shortlisted for three major national awards.

“The service has revolutionised early diagnosis and treatment for patients, improving their quality of life and helping them live longer.

“It is seen as the gold standard in emergency cancer care and we’re incredibly lucky to have it here.”