Taking Control of Cancer

Welcome to episode one of Taking Control of Cancer, the podcast from the North East London Cancer Alliance. In this episode, award-winning former BBC podcast presenter Steve Bland (You, Me and the Big C) is joined by Professor Charles Knight MD FRCP, who is a consultant cardiologist and chief executive of St Bartholomew's Hospital, part of Barts Health NHS Trust AND the chair of the Cancer Alliance board.

Professor Knight takes Steve through his own career, and explains how he came to be involved with the Alliance. He also talks about the challenges the Alliance faces in the incredibly diverse North East London, and the work that's going on to tackle those challenges.

About Professor Knight: 
Professor Knight served as honorary secretary of the British Cardiovascular Society from 2008 to 2011 and was associate editor of the journal Heart until 2014. He was a member of the Royal College of Physicians' Cardiology Speciality Advisory Committee.
 
Professor Knight is a specialist in alcohol septal ablation and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. From 2010 he led the development of the Barts Heart Centre by merging cardiac services from across London to create the largest cardiac centre in the UK. He became the Centre’s first executive director in 2014. In 2015 he was appointed as managing director and then chief executive of St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
 
In March 2020, Professor Knight was seconded as chief executive officer of NHS Nightingale Hospital London, established to care for patients during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. In July he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in acknowledgment of his role in the NHS’s response to the outbreak. In October 2020 he was awarded an OBE for services to the NHS and people with heart disease.

Find out more about the North East London Cancer Alliance here.
 

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.