A former Guy’s Hospital cancer nurse has been recognised for her inspirational work supporting people living with cancer in London.
Awards host, actor Larry Lamb, presented Amanda Shewbridge (57) with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Macmillan Excellence Awards, held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Thursday 7th November 2019.
Amanda, from Eltham in South London, was recognised for her tireless and inventive contribution to the improvement of cancer care services.
Amanda said of her Lifetime Achievement Award:
“I feel really lucky to have enjoyed the career that I’ve had over the last 30 years in cancer nursing. There’s been such changes to how we manage and treat cancer patients, but also how the roles of healthcare professionals have developed along the way.
“I’ve had some amazing colleagues and met some fantastic patients, so to get this award at this point of my career is just the icing on the cake.”
Daniel Callanan, Acting Macmillan Partnership Manager for South East London said of Amanda’s well-deserved win:
“These awards, which are now in their eighth year, are the perfect opportunity for us to recognise and thank pioneering individuals who deliver the highest standards of care for people living with cancer.
“With a career spanning more than 30 years, Amanda has worked tirelessly to influence, challenge and improve outcomes and experiences for people living with cancer in London and the South East of England. Amanda is a most worthy winner and everyone at Macmillan Cancer Support is incredibly grateful for her outstanding work on behalf of people impacted by cancer.”
After qualifying as a nurse in 1984, Amanda has gone on to have an extensive career in oncology, cancer nursing and research. Initially based at Guy’s Hospital, Amanda was also Lead Nurse for Cancer Services at Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust, and later the Consultant Nurse in breast cancer at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. While there, she put into effect nurse-led diagnostic services and end-of-treatment clinics.
In 2017, she became the Macmillan Nurse Programme Lead for Living with and Beyond Cancer at South East London Accountable Cancer Network, where she transformed patient care.
Amanda’s extensive academic work includes a PhD study of breast cancer in West African women, as well as supporting a research project, which investigates how the use of Holistic Needs Assessments for women with breast cancer in Ghana and Tanzania could help to improve lives.
The ceremony, hosted by Larry Lamb, actor and long-time supporter of Macmillan, was attended by over 400 health and social care professionals and guests.
