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.

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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What is Taking Control of Cancer?

Welcome to Taking Control of Cancer, the podcast from the North East London Cancer Alliance. Think of us as your ‘how to’ guide when it comes to busting common cancer myths, overcoming fears and barriers, and improving cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.

This series aims to provide both patients and healthcare professionals with tangible things they can do to help when it comes to cancer. Whilst we know not all cancers are preventable, there are things we can all do that could make a positive difference to the health and wellbeing of our family, friends and colleagues.

There are two underlying themes across all episodes – the importance of early diagnosis, and reducing health inequalities.

Host:
Steve Bland is an award-winning podcaster and producer and one of the three presenters of the BBC podcast You, Me and the Big C, which was set up by his first wife - BBC presenter Rachael Bland - before her death from triple negative breast cancer in 2018.

Regular guests:
Dr Angela Wong, Chief Medical Officer, North East London Cancer Alliance:
Angela is a driving force behind improving cancer diagnostics for residents across north east London. As Chief Medical Officer for the North East London Cancer Alliance, Angela works tirelessly on delivering innovation and service improvements for cancer patients.

Femi Odewale, Managing Director, North East London Cancer Alliance:
Femi leads the programme teams from the North East London Cancer Alliance across three core areas of work: Early Diagnosis, Diagnosis and Treatment, and Personalised Care.