Leukaemia CARE Nurse Launch - Gary Lineker Visited The Royal Free Hospital In London, UK

Sports personality Gary Lineker visited the Royal Free Hospital in London on 24th September to meet the country's first Leukaemia CARE Clinical Nurse Specialist.


Clara Patmore, who started in her new role at the Hampstead hospital this summer, is the first nurse in the UK to be funded by the charity Leukaemia CARE.


Among her duties, she acts as a continuous point of contact between the medical team and the leukaemia patient, provides information and support for patients and their families, goes through treatment plans with patients and visits inpatients.


Gary, who is Leukaemia CARE's patron, was met by Pam Chesters, trust chairman, and Tony Gavin, the charity's chief executive, and given a tour of the hospital's oncology and chemotherapy suite by Dr Panos Kottaridis, leukaemia consultant. He also spoke to Kate Skupin, 52, from Wembley, and Christopher Frost, a 50-year-old driving instructor, from Barnet, who were both treated for leukaemia at the Royal Free.


After meeting staff and patients, Gary said: "With the launch of the first Leukaemia CARE nurse at the Royal Free Hospital, patients diagnosed with leukaemia will be looked after by a specialist nurse providing one-to-one support for anything they need. She will provide support for families during what I know is a very difficult time.


"It is thanks to Leukaemia CARE that this role has been made possible, and to the fantastic support of staff at the Royal Free Hospital."


Clara qualified as a nurse in 2000 and has worked in the haematology department at the Royal Free since 2001.


She said: "I am grateful to Leukaemia CARE for funding my role, and delighted to work with such an expert haematology team at the Royal Free where we are involved in national and international trials. It is very rewarding to work in a hospital with such a good record in terms of clinical care and also in research."


Dr Kottaridis said: "We are extremely grateful to Leukaemia CARE for choosing the Royal Free to support this special job.


"Clara has been a very successful nurse and junior sister at our hospital and she will be a very successful leukaemia nurse, providing a vital link between the patient and the medical team."


Leukaemia CARE