From left to right: BBC news presenter Nicholas Owen, Hilary Calvert, Richard Sainsbury, Ruth Plummer (Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine, Northern Institute for Cancer Research), Robert Day
A nurse who reduced the need for hospital stays by 80% and a young surgeon who discovered a new target for pancreatic cancer therapies were among the winners of this year’s Excellence in Oncology Awards.
The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award went to Professor Hilary Calvert, Director of the Northern Institute of Cancer Research, Newcastle Upon Tyne, for his outstanding contribution to the field of oncology.
The eight winners, along with other commended teams and individuals, were announced during the 2009 National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Annual Meeting in Birmingham.
The awards recognise UK-based healthcare professionals who have made a significant improvement to the management and care of cancer patients.
Organised and funded by Pfizer, in association with the British Oncological Association (BOA), the Awards offer grants totalling more than £10,000 to the winners.
Richard Sainsbury, President of the BOA, Consultant Breast Surgeon at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Chair of the judges’ committee, commented: “It was a pleasure to review this year’s entries – three times as many as last year. It is encouraging to reflect that the winners represent only a small sample of the outstanding work going on across the UK. The judges can testify to the dedication, resourcefulness and patient focus of oncology teams across the country.”
The Excellence in Oncology Awards were devised to provide a platform for sharing knowledge and experience for the ultimate benefit of cancer patients.
“We are delighted to see how this initiative has grown in the four years since its inception,” said Robert Day, UK Head of Pfizer Oncology. “We would like to thank everyone who took part in these awards and congratulate all the award winners. It is our sincere hope that the Excellence in Oncology Awards continue to help advance best practice in oncology in the UK.”