In the next of our series ‘Spotlight on staff,’ we caught up with Sophie O’Brien, Cancer Matron, to find out a little more about her role and how the Sussex Cancer Fund has helped.
What is your role at the hospital?
I am the Cancer Matron for the inpatient and outpatient units at BSUH.
How long have you worked here?
15 years
What is the best bit about your job?
I love being creative when looking at how to develop and improve our services to cancer patients in Sussex. I enjoy working with the nursing teams across cancer and supporting their development with education and working with the wider hospital staff regarding updates in cancer.
What is your connection with the Sussex Cancer Fund?
I have worked closely with the Sussex Cancer Fund for many years looking at how the donations can improve facilities for cancer patients, Julia (Fund Manager) and I worked very hard on improving our cancer waiting room and treatment area to make it a more relaxed, less clinical area for patients to come and receive their anti-cancer therapy.
How has the Sussex Cancer Fund helped you?
The Sussex Cancer Fund has been paramount in improving the patient experience by providing the extras that the NHS cannot fund, making our areas more comfortable and inviting when people are undergoing therapy.
Have you done any fundraising for the Sussex Cancer Fund? If so, what did you do?
I have supported many fundraising campaigns the Fund has done by getting friends to run on behalf of the Fund or shaking buckets at events, I am not a runner but have got others involved.
How the Sussex Cancer Fund has made a difference?
Without the Sussex Cancer Fund, our treatment areas would be very clinical and we would not be able to offer complementary therapies and cutting edge research, we are very lucky to have this local fund for our hospitals.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our followers?
Please please please continue to support the SCF, the work they do is amazing and makes such a difference to the lives of people living with cancer!
If you would like to support the work we do to support Sophie and teams please use the button below.
