Caroline's Blog

Who need three homes you may ask?  Especially when they are in the same part of the world.

But when it means cancer patients can have the best possible treatment care closer to their homes, eliminating the need for a two hour round trip every day for up to six weeks whilst suffering from the disease, then it’s a very important requirement.

Our new radiotherapy centre opens in Salford next month and this week we’re having a series of special preview tours for different groups. VIPs, fundraisers and member will get an exclusive look round the new £18 million centre to see the high-quality environment and high-tech facilities.  Visiting supporters include Holts Brewery who have generously raised £250,000 for the impressive reception. We could simply not achieve developments like these without the outstanding support from companies such as Holts, who have supported us for over 100 years, as well as local people. Russell Watson the Salford-born opera signer, who we treated with radiotherapy for a brain tumour in 2008, will also visit the centre tomorrow. It looks fabulous if I say so myself.

We look forward to showing everyone around over the next few days and so very proud that we now have three homes.  Homes that will save lives and there can be no greater reason to open the doors than that.

I’m very focused on wellbeing at the moment after giving a key note Patron speech on the subject at the Network National business women’s event in Newcastle this weekend.  The theme of the event was wellbeing and celebrated their 30th anniversary. 

It was a great atmosphere and a real pleasure to join a group of bright, bubby and friendly women, but it reminded me about the importance of wellbeing, not just in ourselves but also in our employees.

Wellbeing is one of the most important aspects our lives – underpinning everything we do, how we think, feel, act and behave but the statistics about the impact of poor health on individuals and companies are quite shocking. The cost of ill health to the British economy is more than £100 million, but the UK economy could gain £12 billion in productivity if wellbeing levels were to rise by just 7%.

We all need to be pro-active about a healthy workplace and lead by example. I talked about our wellbeing programme at The Christie at the conference and used a brilliant quote from the entrepreneur and author Paul Hawken, “Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied and even joyous.  That has more effect on economic wellbeing that any other single factor.”

Because we’re all worth it……

We received a very special certificate on Saturday.

A very important and prestigious accreditation that confirms The Christie as one of the leading cancer centres in Europe.

Our medical director Dr Chris Harrison was in Amsterdam for the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) Assembly where he was officially presented with our Comprehensive Cancer Centre accreditation certificate – making us the first centre in the UK to receive this stamp of excellence.

Accreditation is awarded to specialist centres that offer a wide range of cancer treatments, undertake world-class research and provide education to the highest standards - and this confirms our ranking alongside internationally-leading cancer centres such as the Karolinska in Stockholm, as well as centres in Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.  It’s excellent that the treatment and research we deliver has been officially recognised as of the highest standards by fellow professionals.  It gives confidence to our partners, fundraisers, public and staff – and most importantly patients and their families.

We were the first NHS hospital to be voted onto the OECI as a member in 2007 and have been fully involved from the outset. We hosted the OECI annual conference in 2009, bringing the event to the UK for the first time, and Dr Harrison has just been appointed to be member of OECI board.  He has also been asked to chair a working group on prevention and early detection, which is in partly on the back of the Manchester Versus Cancer alliance we launched in 2007 and its award-winning ‘Don’t be a cancer chancer’ campaign.

The tulips were in full bloom in Amsterdam on a bright and proud day for The Christie.

Aristotle said that, ”In the arena of human life, the honours and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action.”

Recognition is so important and I am delighted that our non-executive director Jenni Murray is being made a Dame in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.  Jenni received an OBE in 1999 for services to radio broadcasting and has become synonymous with BBC Radio 4’s Woman's Hour which she has presented since 1987.  She’s been a great supporter and ambassador of The Christie since being treated here for breast cancer in 2006 and richly deserves every honour and accolade that comes her way.

I think at times we have a tendency to underestimate the importance of recognition. It makes good business sense as well, with employees across the board listing recognition for a job well done in the three top things they want most in a job. Despite popular belief, money isn’t the best way to recognise superior performance. In fact, research shows us that the number one reason people leave jobs is “limited recognition and praise”. Organisations that create environments where people are motivated, and positive behavior is rewarded, will attract the best talent, maintain strong morale, retain key employees and ultimately stay ahead of the competition. 

We have an annual staff awards ceremony and employee of the month scheme to formally recognise outstanding teams and individuals, but the daily practice of recognition is also promoted. The thank you’s, great job, we couldn’t have gotten here without your input, you are a valued member of this team and so forth – that inspire many to want to continue making an effort. Let’s face it, whatever our job, task or profession, we want to know that what we are doing matters. We all want to know that others appreciate the effort we make.

It doesn’t just feel good to get a compliment – it also feels good to give one. It's one of the easiest "double wins" in life.

Well done Jenni, we are all very proud of you.

I spoke at an emotional and uplifting event last Friday.  A lunch at the Lowry to raise money for our charity and in memory of Elise Roberts, an incredibly brave woman.

In January 2010, Elise was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and died just nine months later. She was only 37.  Most of us would struggle to cope with the enormity of the cruel cancer card she had been dealt, but Elise was an extraordinary person. Despite being very unwell she began a massive fundraising campaign called Elise for Life to raise £1 million to fund research into malignant melanoma – and for work taking place in our clinical trials unit.  Survival rates for malignant melanoma are very low, but with funding, doctors at The Christie will be able to carry out trials into new treatments that could save lives.

Since Elise’s death last year the campaign has grown and Elise would have been so proud. It was a privilege to meet her husband Mark Roberts at the Elise for Life lunch as well as both of Elise’s sisters, Nola and Loretta. Many thanks to Mark for the lovely flowers and also to Debra Searle MBE, famous for rowing solo across the Atlantic in a 23ft plywood boat, who was the guest speaker and Chelsea Norris from Key 103 FM who oversaw the charity auction.

I feel very sad that we weren’t able to help Elise, but she has left such a strong legacy.  She wanted to help others and I’ve been humbled by the mission she started and what her loved ones have continued.

The sun came out bright and strong whilst we were having lunch on Friday and I’m sure it was Elise smiling down on us.

• www.eliseforlife.org

Our new chairman, Lord Keith Bradley starts on Wednesday. 

Keith has been a non-executive director since 2006 so I know him well, but the relationship between a chairman and chief executive is something quite different.

The nature and dynamic of the partnership is almost invariable more important that the definition of the two respective roles.  Life can sometimes be lonely as chief executive and a strong relationship with the chairman, who provides a good sounding board and can be a mentor and advocate for specific issues makes a huge difference.  It’s essential that the two roles are clearly defined from the outset to avoid territorial disputes or misunderstandings, but a relationship based on mutual trust, regular contact, openness and integrity can make for powerful partners.

I’ve been lucky to have built really close and effective relationships with the chairmen (and chairwomen) I have worked with and I know Keith and I will also make a formidable pair.  A complementary and co-operative relationship at the heart of the organisation. Working well together for cancer patients, who give all of us the most profound focus and common goal.

Keith replaces Jim Martin who was chairman here for four years and made an outstanding contribution. Keith starts his role as we enter a new chapter for The Christie, with challenges ahead within the economic environment, but I know he will help make it a very successful one.