Cancer patients from across Greater Manchester and the North West are sharing their experiences in a new series of films from The Christie, highlighting how cancer care could improve in the future through better use of information, technology and more connected services.
The Future Christie and Me film series features patients from across the region, including Lynn Thompson from Chorlton, Asia Sharif from Manchester, Claudia Boardman from Northwich, Jon Roe from Knutsford and Robin Edwards from Buxton.
Together, they offer personal perspectives on how care could become more joined-up, accessible and personalised for future patients, particularly through the use of technology and digital healthcare tools.
The films support Future Christie, a major ten-year transformation programme focused on improving patient experience and supporting staff through better use of information, data and digital systems.
Among those featured is Lynn Thompson, who has been living with ovarian cancer since 2017 and continues to receive ongoing treatment and monitoring at The Christie.
As someone who regularly attends appointments, scans and consultations, Lynn understands how important it is for patients and staff to have access to the right information at the right time.
“It would be fantastic to have one platform where all clinical staff can access up-to-date information,” she says. “That way patients don’t have to keep repeating themselves.”
For Lynn, the greatest benefit of improved technology is not the technology itself, but the difference it could make to day-to-day care.
“An up-to-date patient record system could give clinical staff more time for face-to-face conversations,” she explains. “When you’re living with cancer, those conversations really matter.”
She also believes better-connected systems could help reduce some of the practical frustrations patients experience during treatment.
“I hope the correct use of technology will reduce waiting times in clinic or avoid spending hours in hospital for something like a blood test,” she says.
Lynn welcomes plans to improve how patients access information about their care.
“I want to be able to access up-to-date information online,” she adds.
Living with cancer remains part of Lynn's life, but she continues to plan for the future and enjoys spending time with her husband and travelling whenever possible.
She hopes the changes being explored through Future Christie will make the experience of care easier for future patients.
“If using new health technology can help people feel more informed, more supported and less anxious, then it’s worth doing,” she says.
The series also includes Claudia Boardman, a midwife originally from Blackburn who underwent intensive cancer treatment as a young adult; Asia Sharif, a Manchester software engineer recovering from stage 4 lymphoma after chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant; Robin Edwards from Buxton, who speaks about the importance of easy access to information while living with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; and Jon Roe from Knutsford, who reflects on the reassurance that comes from care teams having access to the information they need when treating patients.
Collectively, the films explore how improvements in information-sharing, digital systems and communication could help make care feel more connected and personalised, while ensuring that compassionate human care remains at the centre of every patient experience.
The films are available to watch at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLCq316TpJP8 or search for ‘Future Christie’ on YouTube. [opens in a new window]