I love my job and it’s hugely satisfying working on the unit
There was never any doubt about the career Katie Wicks was going to choose while growing up as she knew with absolute certainty, from a young age, that she would become a nurse. But it was a stint as a volunteer at a hospice during her nurse training and the death of her father-in-law from oral cancer aged just 54, that really sealed her career decision to specialise in cancer care.
“When I was volunteering at the hospice I was moved by the respect and the gentleness of the care for the patients,” says Katie.
“I naturally gravitated to wanting to make a difference for patients going through cancer treatment.”
Katie has been a chemotherapy nurse at Colchester Hospital in East Suffolk for 11 years and has spent the past six years on the mobile cancer care unit known as Maureen which is based at the hospital. As a mum of two she now works part-time sometimes in the Collingwood Centre at the hospital and other times on the mobile unit.
I get a real buzz when I go into work in the mornings, and I see my name is on the rota to go out on the mobile cancer care unit. It makes me really happy.
I love my job and it’s hugely satisfying working on the unit.
“Although we offer the same treatment as the hospital, we are lucky to be able to deliver it in a much more intimate, relaxed environment which I feel makes a big difference to the patients.
“There’s no parking stress, no running late and no hanging around waiting for medications.
“Patient assessments can be done on the telephone the night before treatment which saves a lot of time, and the drivers are also a great support – they can hand out the medication for us due to the rigorous identity checks that we follow.
“All these things help to speed up the process considerably. It makes for a quick turnaround for the patients which is brilliant for them. But in all honesty, it really is a win, win for everyone. Patients have a more relaxed experience, and the existence of the units also take a lot of pressure off the hospitals.
“The more people we can identify as suitable candidates for the unit the more space gets freed up at the hospital for the patients whose treatment needs to be done there.
“We never push anyone to swap over to the unit if they don’t feel comfortable, it’s offered as an option and it’s their choice to decide if they want to do it. initially people can feel a bit anxious about coming out of a hospital environment.
“But if they do opt to have their treatment on the unit it doesn’t take long for them to realise they are getting the same care that they would at the hospital.
“The mobile unit is small, just four chairs, two nurses and a driver so that makes it very easy for people to get to know each other very quickly.
“We never push anyone to swap over to the unit if they don’t feel comfortable, it’s offered as an option and it’s their choice to decide if they want to do it. initially people can feel a bit anxious about coming out of a hospital environment.
“But if they do opt to have their treatment on the unit it doesn’t take long for them to realise they are getting the same care that they would at the hospital.
“The mobile unit is small, just four chairs, two nurses and a driver so that makes it very easy for people to get to know each other very quickly.
“People can form strong friendships on the unit. They tend to look out for each other and they ask after each other. They notice if someone hasn’t been seen for a while. The bonds can be very strong, there’s a great deal of support among the patients.
“I know people who would travel further to the mobile unit even if the hospital was closer option.
The mobile unit for East Sussex covers Halstead, Manningtree, Stanway and Tiptree.
Katie says: “All of the days are really busy. The unit does tend to attract a lot of attention when it is parked up. It’s good for raising awareness of what we do.
“It’s not unusual to have people knocking on the door to ask what we are all about. Some just knock to give us some biscuits or cakes to thank us for being there.
“I love the relaxed atmosphere on the bus and I love the sociable element of it too. It really is a fantastic service and I feel very privileged to be a part of it.
“Even though we are dealing with cancer day after day it’s not all doom and gloom on the unit. We have some lovely light moments too.
“It might sound strange to say, but despite their difficult circumstances, some people really do look forward to attending the mobile unit and seeing its team.”
I love my job and it’s hugely satisfying working on the unit
There was never any doubt about the career Katie Wicks was going to choose while growing up as she knew with absolute certainty, from a young age, that she would become a nurse. But it was a stint as a volunteer at a hospice during her nurse training and the death of her father-in-law from oral cancer aged just 54, that really sealed her career decision to specialise in cancer care.
“When I was volunteering at the hospice I was moved by the respect and the gentleness of the care for the patients,” says Katie.
“I naturally gravitated to wanting to make a difference for patients going through cancer treatment.”
Katie has been a chemotherapy nurse at Colchester Hospital in East Suffolk for 11 years and has spent the past six years on the mobile cancer care unit known as Maureen which is based at the hospital. As a mum of two she now works part-time sometimes in the Collingwood Centre at the hospital and other times on the mobile unit.
I get a real buzz when I go into work in the mornings, and I see my name is on the rota to go out on the mobile cancer care unit. It makes me really happy.
I love my job and it’s hugely satisfying working on the unit.
“Although we offer the same treatment as the hospital, we are lucky to be able to deliver it in a much more intimate, relaxed environment which I feel makes a big difference to the patients.
“There’s no parking stress, no running late and no hanging around waiting for medications.
“Patient assessments can be done on the telephone the night before treatment which saves a lot of time, and the drivers are also a great support – they can hand out the medication for us due to the rigorous identity checks that we follow.
“All these things help to speed up the process considerably. It makes for a quick turnaround for the patients which is brilliant for them. But in all honesty, it really is a win, win for everyone. Patients have a more relaxed experience, and the existence of the units also take a lot of pressure off the hospitals.
“The more people we can identify as suitable candidates for the unit the more space gets freed up at the hospital for the patients whose treatment needs to be done there.
“We never push anyone to swap over to the unit if they don’t feel comfortable, it’s offered as an option and it’s their choice to decide if they want to do it. initially people can feel a bit anxious about coming out of a hospital environment.
“But if they do opt to have their treatment on the unit it doesn’t take long for them to realise they are getting the same care that they would at the hospital.
“The mobile unit is small, just four chairs, two nurses and a driver so that makes it very easy for people to get to know each other very quickly.
“People can form strong friendships on the unit. They tend to look out for each other and they ask after each other. They notice if someone hasn’t been seen for a while. The bonds can be very strong, there’s a great deal of support among the patients.
“I know people who would travel further to the mobile unit even if the hospital was closer option.
The mobile unit for East Sussex covers Halstead, Manningtree, Stanway and Tiptree.
Katie says: “All of the days are really busy. The unit does tend to attract a lot of attention when it is parked up. It’s good for raising awareness of what we do.
“It’s not unusual to have people knocking on the door to ask what we are all about. Some just knock to give us some biscuits or cakes to thank us for being there.
“I love the relaxed atmosphere on the unit and I love the sociable element of it too. It really is a fantastic service and I feel very privileged to be a part of it.
“Even though we are dealing with cancer day after day it’s not all doom and gloom on the unit. We have some lovely light moments too.
“It might sound strange to say, but despite their difficult circumstances, some people really do look forward to attending the mobile unit and seeing its team.”
