Charlene Kent says the award is ‘really humbling’
Charlene Kent, winner of an ‘Outstanding Care’ award(Image: NHS Humber Health Partnership)
A local healthcare worker supporting young people affected by cancer and their families has been recognised for her outstanding care. Charlene Kent is the youth support co-ordinator for the Teenage and Young Adult Unit at Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham.
She won the “Outstanding Care” category at the recent Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance Excellence in Cancer Awards. Over her eight years in the role, Charlene has helped countless families from across the Humber region and parts of North Yorkshire through what could be the most difficult time in their lives.
Charlene’s patients describe her as “the backbone of the service” and “a lifeline”. One mum called her “my hero, who kept me positive through my darkest time”.
With the help of her colleagues, Charlene ensures her young patients receive both clinical and psychosocial care, which can include everything from co-ordinating appointments and having bloods taken to advising on hair loss, helping to manage anxiety and organising social events so young patients can meet others like them. She serves as an advocate for young people and families when they need help to navigate the healthcare system, when they need help explaining needs and rights to employers, and she is a reassuring voice when things get tough.
She has even organised hospital-based graduation ceremonies for students too ill to attend their university ceremonies, and has helped scores of patients fulfil “bucket list” activities as diverse as skydiving and milking a cow. Followers of the Castle Hill Hospital Facebook page have been full of praise for Charlene and her award.
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One said: “I’m not a teen but Charlene was always there for me during my cancer journey. So happy to see she is being recognised. Well done Charlene, a very special lady with the kindest of hearts.”
Another commented: “Over the past two years, Charlene has been at the end of the phone, always making herself available whenever we have needed her, she has been invaluable to my family and my son. Congratulations and well done.”
Speaking about her award win, Charlene said: “My role can be complex and is often emotionally challenging, but it’s the most rewarding thing in the world to support a young person through their cancer journey and see them walk out of our hospital cancer-free at the end of it. A cancer diagnosis can be devastating at any age, but for teenagers and young people who are just getting started in life, it can feel particularly cruel.
“My job is to support them and help them understand what’s happening, but also to remember that there’s a young person inside as well as a patient, with all the same interests, issues and concerns; college, work, relationships and so on; that any other teenager or young adult would have.
Charlene Kent with former TYA Unit patient, Freddie Cole(Image: NHS Humber Health Partnership)
“To win the Outstanding Care award is really humbling. It’s a privilege for me to work with so many brave young people and to know that my work is appreciated.”
This is the second year in which the Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance has held its Excellence in Cancer awards, which celebrate those working in cancer services across the Humber and North Yorkshire for their hard work, innovation and commitment to delivering the best possible care for patients. Another team from the Queen’s Centre at Castle Hill Hospital, the academic oncology and haematology research team, also reached the awards shortlist in the same category as Charlene.
The team was acknowledged for its work to trial new treatments such as the cancer vaccine and the support offered to patients through participation in extensive clinical research.