Don Milligan - Medical Director

I provide clinical leadership to the Network. The Medical Director is responsible for networking between Health Authorities and Trusts to provide cancer care and clinical research in keeping with the principles set out in the Calman Hine report and subsequent national guidance, with particular reference to the NHS Cancer Plan. The post is equivalent in seniority to a Trust Medical Director.

Tel: 0121 415 8361
Fax: 0121 414 8500

Email: don.milligan@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Karen Metcalf - Network Director

I lead the Network management team in working towards successful implementation of the national cancer plan. This involves setting and agreeing the team's individual job objectives and making sure that these are aligned to the requirements of the cancer plan. I follow this through by monitoring and supporting staff as they work towards achieving their job objectives.

My responsibilities go beyond the Network team. Working with Clinicians and managers from Trusts across the Network, I agree and develop a Network-wide work programme. The programme brings together the Network and its service partners in the planning, development and delivery of high quality cancer services. I am responsible for making sure that this programme is aligned to national cancer policy, engages service users and takes into account the needs of patients and carers.

I am also cancer lead for the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority with responsibility for the Birmingham area.

Tel: 0121 414 8674

Fax: 0121 414 8500
Email: karen.metcalf@westmidlands.nhs.uk  

Lynn Field - Network Nurse Director

The purpose of my role is to provide strategic leadership for nursing and allied healthcare professionals across the Network and to ensure the planned delivery of cancer services in collaboration with the Network Board.

I also lead on the development of a workforce strategy for cancer nursing and other professions and the development and implementation of a cancer nursing strategy for cancer care.

As the Network lead for Macmillan, my role incorporates the development and implementation of a policy for the strategic use of allocated funding throughout the Network.

I am responsible for leading on the development and implementation of a Network-wide lymphoedema service.

Tel: 0121 414 8291
Fax: 0121 414 8500
Email: lynn.field@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Ben Parfitt - Associate Director

My role is to work closely with the Network Medical Director and Network Director to plan and develop cancer services at a strategic level to ensure development of high quality cancer services. The post has a specific focus on co-ordinating the work programmes of the Network and Supra network multidisciplinary clinical subgroups. This also involves providing support for the implementation of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence's Improving Outcomes Guidance.

Tel: 0121 415 8249
Fax: 0121 414 8500
Email:ben.parfitt@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Andrew Stanley - Network Pharmacist

I provide oncological pharmacy support to the Network Drug and Therapeutic Committee and support the Research Network specifically relating to drugs trials, to undertake on behalf of the Commissioners, monitoring uptake of cancer drugs and associated expenditure.

I also work in partnership with the Network Medical Director, Network Manager, Network Research and Development Lead and Pharmacy staff to provide commissioning advice in relation to cancer high cost drugs.

Liaising with Chief Pharmacists and Cancer Pharmacists at each Trust within the Network to ensure the delivery of high quality oncology pharmacy services.

Tel: 0121 414 8283
Fax: 0121 414 8500
Email: andrew.stanley@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Alan Ferguson - Urology Project Manager

I joined the organisation in December 2003, following several successful years in the engineering and pharmaceutical industries.

During this time with Pharmacia Ltd, I held a variety of roles such as sales training, marketing and product account management. As part of my regional business development responsibilities I created links with Urology departments across the Network and nationally. Throughout this period I worked as part of an innovative team, developing campaigns used in training and expanding the knowledge of health care professionals, namely those in urological services, pain management and gynaecology.

I aim to inject my own level of experience, enthusiasm and commitment with those of an already forward thinking team, to deliver the key effects for the patients and organisation.

Tel: 0121 414 8267
Fax: 0121 414 8500
Email: alan.ferguson@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Bernie County - Service Improvement Lead

I lead the Network Service Improvement Team ensuring that the Network is able to deliver the stepped change required by the Cancer Reform Strategy. 

The Service Improvement team is composed of ten service improvement facilitators and two admin assistants.  The work streams undertaken by the team are cross Network and we utilise a variety of tools and techniques to enable sustained achievements to be delivered.

The team is also linked to NHS Improvements via the Midlands and Eastern Zone.  These links enable the team to distribute the learning from successfully implemented changes to a National audience.  Examples of achievements can be viewed in the Service Improvement section of the website.

Tel: 0121 414 8268

Fax: 0121 414 8500
Email: bernie.county@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Mandy Wilson - P.A. to Associate Director and Secretary to Network Pharmacist

I provide systematic and effective secretarial and administrative support to the Associate Director and Network Pharmacist in order to assist them to discharge their responsibilities. This also includes organising their affairs, to provide time for planning, thinking and visiting other organisations. I also provide administrative support to the Network Site Specific Groups, Supra Network Groups and other Network Groups as required.

Tel: 0121 414 8283
Fax: 0121 414 8500

Email: mandy.wilson@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Marion Burns - P.A. to Network Director and Medical Director

My role is to provide a systematic, efficient and comprehensive administrative and secretarial support service to the Network Manager and Network Medical Director in order to assist them to discharge their responsibilities. This also includes organising their affairs, to provide time for planning, thinking and visiting other organisations as well as accommodating internal and external meetings.

Tel: 0121 415 8361
Fax: 0121 414 8500
Email: marion.burns@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Kimberley Treacy - Service Improvement Partnership Administrator

My role is to provide comprehensive secretarial support to the Service Improvement Lead and the Workforce Service Improvement Manager in order to assist them to discharge their responsibilities. I also provide administrative support to the Service Improvement Facilitators and Urology Project Manager.

Fax: 0121 414 8500
Email: kimberley.treacy@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Chris Thorpe - Guidelines Administrator

My role is to provide comprehensive secretarial support to the Patient Information and User Involvement Team in order to assist them to discharge their responsibilities. I also provide administrative support to the Network User Partnership Group.

Tel: 0121 414 8670
Fax: 0121 414 8500

Email: christina.thorpe.westmidlands.nhs.uk

AUDIT AND INFORMATION TEAM

Alison Rowe - Information and Audit Lead

The Network Information and Audit Lead is responsible for planning and developing information and audit programmes at a strategic level, working with key stakeholders including the West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit. This involves working with Trust Cancer Teams and Network Site Specific Groups to audit the delivery of cancer services through the application of nationally and locally agreed datasets, and information systems. This includes the development and application of the CAUDICO project in collaboration with the West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit.

Tel: 0121 414 8265
Fax: 0121 414 8500
Email: alison.rowe@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Rachel Loveless - Chemotherapy Audit Officer

I act as the main point of contact for chemotherapy audit within the Network, working with the Network pharmacist and Information and Audit lead. My role is to initiate, co-ordinate and review a rolling programme of audits monitoring use of NICE recommended oncology drugs. I collate data from provider Trusts regarding their use of NICE drugs and provide information to help the Network and PCTs ensure equity of implementation of NICE prescribing guidance.

Tel: 0121 507 4481
Fax: 0121 414 8500

Email: rachel.loveless@swbh.nhs.uk

RESEARCH NETWORK TEAM

Dan  Ford - Research Network Clinical Lead

The purpose of this post is to provide clinical leadership and development of the Research Network in line with local and national priorities. The Research Network Clinical Lead liaises with Trust Research Leads, Cancer Clinicians, and Research Teams, both individually and through the Network Site Specific Groups.

Tel: 0121 414 3791
Fax: 0121 414 3400
Email: Daniel.Ford@uhb.nhs.uk

Gina Dutton - Research Network Manager

The role of the Cancer Research Network Manager is to lead, manage and develop the Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network, its staff and its budget. I do this by supporting the Clinical Lead for Research and overseeing the work of the Network, as it collaborates to meet the aims of the National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) and to ensure that National targets, including accrual of patients into trials, are achieved and maintained. I also develop and implement a local research strategy, in collaboration with the Clinical Lead for Research, reflecting local and national priorities, ensuring high quality research and representing an optimum use of Network resources. The Manager is required to ensure effective communication for the Network, by developing close partnerships and productive working relationships with key individuals and groups across the Network, NCRN and the wider cancer research community, thereby ensuring the Network is represented in national discussion and debate. I am also involved in several national working groups for the NCRN.

Tel: 0121 414 5346
Fax: 0121 414 3400
Email: Gina.Dutton@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Jackie Sears - Research Network Lead Nurse 

The role of the Cancer Research Network Lead Nurse is to provide induction, training and on-going support to Trust based staff, working with other Network Training Links to ensure that there is a comprehensive package of training available. I also undertake clinical research nurse duties at Trusts with in the Network. I am currently based at SWBH.

Tel: 0121 414 5346
Fax: 0121 414 3400
Email: Jackie.Sears@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Maggie Hope - Research Network Administrator

I am responsible for the provision of a full administrative service to the Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network (PBCRN) ensuring that the team deliver an efficient and high quality service. I am required to develop and maintain good working relationships with all staff. This includes liaison with Consultants, Managers, Nursing and other medical staff in addition to local and national organisations necessary to the function of the PBCRN. I am the first point of contact for information about training courses run by the Birmingham Research Training Collaborative.

Tel: 0121 414 5346
Fax: 0121 414 3400
Email: Maggie.Hope@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Matt Nunn – Research Network Information Officer

I am responsible for the development and maintenance of databases used within the PBCRN as an accurate source of information for Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network community. I am also responsible for data collection of trial activity throughout the network, regulatory submissions for studies opening within Pan Birmingham Trusts and provide data management support to Trust based staff.

Collection of accrual data by arranging regular audits of clinical trials activity in the Network and preparing monthly and annual reports is a key component of my role. Part of this involves liaising with Trust sites in order to ensure that our trials database is kept up to date, and thus ensure that the monthly return of data is accurate as possible.

Tel: 0121 414 5346
Fax: 0121 414 3400
Email: Matthew.Nunn@westmidlands.nhs.uk

PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM

Diana Webb - Clinical Director for Palliative Care

I have been a Consultant in Palliative Medicine based at St Giles Hospice, Lichfield, since 1995. My role there has involved working in the community, various Acute Hospital Trusts and within all departments of the Hospice and I took on the position of Medical Director for St Giles in 2000.

Since January 2004 I have taken a secondment with Pan Birmingham Cancer Network to support the specialist palliative care teams across the City which are currently without palliative medicine Consultants. My aim is to work across sectors to enable the appointment of a number of Consultants in the Pan Birmingham Cancer Network who will work collaboratively to develop and lead the service.

It is intended that my secondment will end in the spring of 2005, but I will retain an active interest in the Network, providing mentorship and support.

Tel: 0121 414 8274

Fax: 0121 414 8500
Email: diana.webb@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Lara Barnish - Deputy Nurse Director

The Senior Nurse for Service Development is responsible for the development of network wide clinical guidelines and for ensuring the implementation of agreed areas of national policy. As a senior nurse the post holder is responsible for leading on, and contributing to, the development and implementation of agreed streams of Nursing Projects.

I have a background in nursing (specifically ITU and cancer care); have worked as a Lead Cancer Nurse and more recently as a health care consultant.

Tel: 0121 414 8271
Fax: 0121 414 8500

Email: lara.barnish@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Abigail Jenkins - Palliative Care Network Pharmacist

Joining the Network in May 2005, my role is to lead on ensuring access to palliative care drugs in both the ‘in hours’ and ‘out of hours’ setting. Within the Pan Birmingham Cancer Network access to drugs out of hours was ad hoc with no formalised agreements in place. In 2004 I set up a Community Pharmacy Network in which certain pharmacies guarantee to stock a list of drugs commonly used in palliative care. In 2005 the emphasis will be on ensuring access in the out of hours setting.

Previous to this appointment I worked as a pharmacist specialising in haematology and palliative care.

Tel: 0121 507 4481
Fax: 0121 414 8500