Scottish lymphoedema project launched
Published: 24 January 2012
A new national lymphoedema project was launched in January 2012 to improve services for people living with primary and secondary lymphoedema
A new national lymphoedema project was launched in Scotland in January 2012 to improve services for people living with primary and secondary lymphoedema. The initiative is a prime example of the university working in collaboration with charitable organisations. The project is a result of recommendations of a Scottish Government supported short term working group established in response to the findings of the Macmillan funded research undertaken by the University of Glasgow (http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_117170_en.pdf) and a national survey by the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Both of these studies highlighted unmet needs and ad hoc service provision across Scotland.
Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support, this exciting 2 year project will be led by Amanda Platt, who will be based in the Long Term Conditions Alliance (Scotland). Amanda has considerable experience in working with the voluntary sector and the government in relation to implementing health initiatives. Amanda aims to encourage people with the condition to work in partnership with their care providers and ensure the project is successful in improving the quality of life of people at every level of complexity. The project aims to develop and implement a national approach to lymphoedema service provision. Amanda will work closely with colleagues in Scottish Government, University of Glasgow, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, representatives from Health Boards, clinicians and service users. Margaret Sneddon and the Lymphoedema Education Team in Nursing & Health Care will have a key role as any developments in service provision will require to be supported educationally.
The project will seek to meet the ambitions of the Scottish Governments Quality Strategy. Issues to be addressed are identification of those at future risk and risk reduction, standardised referral mechanisms, access to services, recommended data capture and audit, anticipatory care planning, appropriate levels of care and support, quantifiable outcome measures, accessibility to education and training for staff at all levels, and signposting to best practice to encourage effective and timely lymphoedema care.
First published: 24 January 2012
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