Episode 47: Strengthening cancer nursing across London

In this episode, host Steve Bland chats to Kate Williams, the Macmillan Cancer CNS Development Lead (CDL) for North East London Cancer Alliance, and Rani Petros, a Clinical Nurse Specialist Uro Oncology at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, to delve into an exciting new pilot project that aims to transform the future of cancer nursing across London. 

The CDL pilot project is a three-year initiative, delivered in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and NHS England, designed to address workforce challenges by embedding a dedicated Development Lead role into each London Integrated Care System area.

Kate explains why the CDL role was created — highlighting the pressing need to tackle high vacancy rates, retention issues, and limited exposure to cancer nursing during initial training — and how the pilot supports newly qualified and early-career Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) to build confidence, autonomy and leadership skills.

Through a blend of one-to-one mentoring, group education sessions, and outreach activities, the CDL role also promotes the CNS career pathway and fosters a resilient, skilled workforce capable of meeting future cancer care needs.

Listeners will hear about early achievements in north east London, including enhanced support programmes, peer networks, and dedicated training offerings — and how these are making a real difference to nurses’ professional development.

Kate also shares insights into the use of the ACCEND Framework (the national capability framework for cancer workforce development), the importance of raising awareness about the CNS role, and the broader impact the pilot could have on personalised cancer care.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, nursing leader, or someone interested in the future of cancer support services, this episode offers a compelling look at workforce innovation and the value of investing in specialist nursing.

This episode is released on National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Day, which recognises the importance of the role, raises awareness of career opportunities, and thanks all CNSs across the country for all the hard work they do.

To find out more about the Macmillan CDL pilot, visit https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/macmillan-cancer-cns-development-lead-cdl

Read more about National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Day: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/news/national-cancer-clinical-nurse-specialist-day-16-march-2026

#NationalCancerCNSDay

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YouTube: https://bit.ly/4cP9tGA

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