Programme Management Office (Meet the Team)

Claire Casey, Head of Communications and Engagement

Chloe Wells, Communications Officer

I am passionate about: connecting people, humanising communications, and shouting about brilliant work being done.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: the ability to contribute to positive change, and the people - we're a friendly bunch with a real passion for what we do.

Some things I am currently working on are:

• Improving and updating the Cancer Alliance website as a useful and reliable resource
• Raising the profile of our website and social media channels to ensure our vital messaging reaches more people and is able to have more of an impact
• Supporting communications activity for programmes across the alliance

You can talk to me about: any suggestions or ideas, or anything you would like to see on our website or social media, any events or initiatives happening in the community, and anything else - if I can't help I will do my best to point you in the direction of someone who can.

Linda Kaye, Programme Manager, Workforce and OD

My background is: in Workforce, leadership and Organisational Development (OD) / I am passionate about supporting our staff to be the best they can be to give patients a high quality service.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: the team are great and there is a real can do attitude. The best part about my job is watching people grow and develop as they become more skilled and confident.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Implementing the new cancer development framework ACCEND
• Developing workforce plans for our key pathways
• Leading on all things workforce for the Cancer Alliance and linking us to place, ICB and national work

You can talk to me about: all things workforce or anything you want to discuss

Matt Hird, Principal Data Analyst

My background is: in Business Intelligence, analytics, and Performance Information, with nearly fifteen years of NHS experience, prominently relating to Elective Care.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: the people! Through the years of working for the Cancer Alliance, there has been the opportunity to collaborate with peers who hold a breadth of knowledge around our cancer pathways, provide support to facilitate engagement and endorsement for our BI products, and provide an insight into wider topics that directly impact the way we build our products.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• ·Oversight of the migration of CA business intelligence products from exists on-premise location (physical server) to cloud (remote), with the accessibility to additional functionality through our Power BI platform.
• ·Expansion of utilising the Office 365 suite to provide CA audiences with an integrated application around CA BI products, including the setup and dissemination of bespoke channels within a Teams environment. This would incorporate a function to allow conversations organized by the specific topics, projects, and disciplines, with file sharing facility. The Channel is a place where conversations happen and where users are kept informed on the latest business intelligence products, tailored for the groups use.
• ·Utilising national granular published datasets, including the Elective Waiting List Minimum Dataset that provides a near real time position of our current waiters within the SY system, with an intention to utilise such information for projection modelling around demand and forecasting.

You can talk to me about: all aspects of business intelligence relating to cancer pathways, including what data is available, how we optimise the use of data and walk through some of our existing approaches, to best inform our audiences of the analysis undertaken

Liam Corrigan, Data Engineer

My background is: in software development, I have worked in various development roles over the last 8 years including front-end and back-end development, automation builds and data analysis software.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: the group of people working for the SYBCA, I have been a part of this team for 6 months and everyone from day one has been supportive and kind. The best part about my job is the autonomy and support given to me by my line manager Matthew Hird, and the impact the automation I have already complete has had on the BI developments for the CA.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Waiting List dataset automation builds.
• ERs dataset automation builds.
• SYDC Azure cloud platform implementation.

You can talk to me about: migrating local datasets to SQL data warehouses for automation, Python (programming language) for automating repetitive tasks, my new puppy bandit and being bad at golf.

Karen Leivers, Programme Manager, IED

My background is: in Project Management and Service Improvement and I am passionate about reducing health inequalities for the population of SYB and supporting people to access health services, particularly related to cancer screening and signs/symptoms relating to cancer.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: the vision and values that the Cancer Alliance holds, including being dedicated to improving the lives of people living within SYB. The best part about my job is working with a dedicated team who are passionate about making a difference.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Targeted community engagement to reduce health inequalities
• Supporting SYB to be part of the National GRAIL pilot 2024-26
• Enabling opportunities for SYB professionals, including VCSE organisation to apply for Cancer Innovation Scheme funding to test new or existing ways of working

You can talk to me about: the Inequalities & Early Diagnosis Cancer Plan for 2023/24 including emerging opportunities from an NHSE perspective, and Cancer Alliance research and innovation

Steph Edgar, CRUK GP Lead and Deputy Primary Care Lead

 My background is: in primary care and I work in Barnsley as a GP. I am passionate about supporting patients and primary care in recognising the signs and symptoms of cancer and supporting the early detection of cancer and improved survival.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: working with like minded, hardworking people who are striving to make a difference in early cancer detection and survival .  

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• I chair a Primary Care Clinical Delivery Group which brings together representatives from Primary care across SYB to share ideas and support each other around Early cancer diagnosis. I also chair a Research and Innovation Group which supports exciting and evolving research which will benefit the care of cancer patients in our area
• I support the Cancer Champions programme which aims to support Primary care and increase the early detection of cancer and reduce health inequalities
• I support Primary care with the development of podcasts and webinars to disseminate educational content and changes in SYB to make sure GP's can deliver the best, up to date care to their patients. 

You can talk to me about: the Early Diagnosis plan for 23/24 

Michelle Ashbridge, Project Manager

I am passionate about: improving systems and processes in order to deliver the best possible patient care.

The best part about my job is: building strong working relationships with key stakeholders and working collaboratively to deliver earlier diagnosis and improve outcomes for all South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw patients.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• The Cancer Champion Programme (Year 2) – the overall ambition of the 3-year programme is to increase early diagnosis of cancer in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Primary Care Networks in a sustainable way; reducing variation and health inequalities across the region.
• In addition to the above, throughout Year 2 of the Programme, there is also a greater focus on reducing health inequalities across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. Primary Care Network (PCN) Cancer Champions are being encouraged and supported to 1) optimise and use inclusive methods of communication for their communities and 2) engage and work together with their local VCSE, community leaders and Local Authority Teams, etc. who may already have existing trusted relationships within communities experiencing health inequalities, to understand any barriers and to support them to access cancer screening and early diagnosis.
• The Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Talk Cancer Workshops – CRUK train people in public facing roles, such as Cancer Champions and community leaders to help improve awareness and cancer outcomes for the general public. Using local cancer screening data, local priority areas/communities have initially been identified within Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster, and we are working with CRUK to deliver Talk Cancer Workshops in these areas.

You can talk to me about: all aspects of the Cancer Champion Programme, the Cancer Research UK Talk Cancer Workshops and anything relating to Inequalities and the Early Diagnosis of Cancer.

Andrea Stothard, Project Manager

My background is: in Quality and Patient Safety, Project Management and Service Improvement.  I am passionate about improving quality, equity, and equality in health care services for the population of SYB.  Being able to support people to have an awareness of cancer and its signs and symptoms, access screening services to support earlier diagnosis and to optimise patients’ outcomes is important to me.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: the team and working with a group of people who are passionate about making a difference and work to common goals. They are dedicated to improving the lives of people living in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. The vision and values that the Cancer Alliance holds support earlier diagnosis, reducing inequalities and supporting patients through and beyond their diagnosis which is important to me.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Targeted community engagement to reduce health inequalities.
• Supporting Timelier Presentation in communities through education and information provision
• Promoting Innovation and Research through grants/funding to support testing of new, innovative, or novel ways of working.

You can talk to me about: the Inequalities & Early Diagnosis Cancer Plan, Cancer Alliance research and innovation and anything quality!

Tracey Turner, Behavioural Science Project Manager

My background is: in Public Health. I am passionate about reducing health inequalities to improve outcomes for the people we serve.

The best part about: working for the Cancer Alliance is working with amazing people who are all dedicated to making a difference and improve cancer outcomes for population of South Yorkshire. The best part about my job is collaborating with a wide range of individuals to apply behavioural science techniques to influence behaviour for the benefit of patients, communities, and populations.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• How to embed Behavioural Science as an approach to support the ICB strategic priorities, reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for the population of SY
• Supporting the Behavioural Science Academy graduates to continue to develop their competencies in the practical application of Behavioural Science, and to share learning through the Community of Practice
• Act as a mentor and coach to the winning project teams awarded funding through the Academy to progress their Behavioural Science projects to trial deployment and share the learning.

You can talk to me about: the use of Behavioural Science methodology and how it can help you understand the behaviours of our communities of interest and how behavioural science techniques can influence decisions for the benefit of the individual, community, and population.

Kate MacGregor, Project Support Officer

My background is: 

The best part about my job is: 

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

You can talk to me about: 

Alison Thorp, TLHC Programme Manager

My background is: in education and the voluntary and community sector where I spent 9 years before joining the NHS in 2019.   I am passionate about early diagnosis and supporting individuals and families affected by cancer.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: belonging to a team that constantly strive to achieve more/better health outcomes for patients and communities.  The best part about my job is being part of a programme which is saving lives, it doesn’t get much better than that.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• In partnership with the TLHC provider and team members, update 2024/25 activity and finance trajectories for the programme.
• Provide the appropriate infrastructure and baselines to support all members of the PMO.
• Lead on contract discussions/negotiations/variations in relation to TLHC additional cohorts

You can talk to me about: TLHC, LWABC (previous role), Be Cancer SAFE (previous role), Health inequalities, Patient engagement, Working within the VCS/community, engagement/volunteering

Asha Gudibandi, TLHC Project Manager

My background is: 

The best part about my job is: 

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

You can talk to me about: 

Hannah Young, TLHC Senior Communications and Engagement Officer

My background is: in marketing, communications, and engagement in many different industries.

The best part about my job is: knowing I’m working on an incredible programme that is genuinely helping people.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Raising awareness of TLHC purpose and benefits across the county
• Engaging communities, the media, and healthcare professionals to promote TLHC, share successes, and answer questions
• Increasing uptake of the TLHC through encouraging the eligible population to attend their free check

You can talk to me about: anything to do with the TLHC Programme! I’m always looking for new ways to reach local communities to improve engagement – and I’m more than happy to shout about the brilliant work the TLHC team does.

Alex Johnson, SYB Targeted Lung Health Checks Project Support Officer

My responsibilities include:

• Project support for SYB Targeted Lung Health Checks

Dr Jason Page, TLHC Clinical Director

I am passionate about: early diagnosis of all cancer, but especially lung cancer

The best part about my job is: speaking to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer early enough that they can have a significant improvement in their length and quality of life

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Continuing with LHC in all 4 of our established areas- Doncaster, Bassetlaw, Rotherham & Barnsley
• Working in Sheffield to move LHC around the city after a successful start
• Trying to encourage uptake especially thinking about the health inequalities in our area

You can talk to me about: anything to do with Lung Heath Checks (or anything about Rotherham where I’m also place medical director)

Louise Horton, Senior Project Manager

I am passionate about: supporting our services and clinical colleagues in making improvements to provide the best possible outcomes and experience for our patients

My background is: Originally in nursing before moving into various project roles becoming a project manager in 2015

The best part about my job is: getting to work with like minded people who have real drive and want to make a difference

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• MDT Optimisation
• PMO Processes and reporting
• CDG Development

You can talk to me about: anything, if I cant help I will sign post you to someone more appropriate

Hayley Williams, Single Cancer Management Systems Project and Development Lead

My background is: in nursing, cancer and programme management

The best part about my job is: being able to make a difference to people and their families on cancer pathways 

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Developing a shared cancer record across SYB
• Bringing stakeholders together to use their expertise in developing modules in a cancer pathway
• Phase 3 of the project, focusing on finalising core elements design, including referral management and MDT management

You can talk to me about: anything related to cancer, cancer pathways, improvement work and programme management

Tamsyn Hughes, Project Manager

My background is: in Mental Health Nursing, having qualified in 2010 before moving into Project Manager roles a number of years ago after developing an appetite to drive and support improvements in the care and support provided to patients, their families, carers and our communities. 

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: broadening my understanding and knowledge of wider systems.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Supporting our Clinical Delivery Groups to make improvements for the following cancer pathways across South Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and Chesterfield...

Head & Neck

Haematology

Upper GI

HPB (Hepatobiliary)

You can talk to me about: anything related to the above Cancer pathways, as if I don't know the answer I can ask colleagues who most certainly will

Ellie Booth, Project Implementation Officer

My background is: in projects, I have worked in projects with the NHS for the past 5 years and have been with the Cancer Alliance since 2021.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: definitely the team, everyone is here because they genuinely care about improving the lives of people with cancer. They are so supportive both with work and personal matters and I was made to feel welcome as soon as I joined the team.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Skin Cancer Optimum Pathway
• Urology Prostate Pathway
• Skin Lesion Recognition Module

You can talk to me about: anything and if I can’t help I’ll do my best to find someone who can, my inbox is always open 

Emma Godden, Project Implementation Officer

My background is: in project based work, having worked previously at Health Education England before joining the Cancer Alliance in February 2024.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: the supportive team providing an environment to develop and use your skills to improve cancer services across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Lung cancer pathway process mapping
• Establishing breast pain pathways across all places
• Supporting breast and lung CDG groups

You can talk to me about: anything and if I don't know the answer I will try and find it for you.

Lewis Hilditch, Senior Data Analyst

My responsibilities include:

• Deputy CEP Lead
• Supports the provision of BI for the CEP programme and across clinical delivery groups
• Leads on the development of the quality dashboard
• Leads on the development and delivery of key reports

Elaine Baxendale, Macmillan Deputy Programme Lead PCS and the Breast Pathway Lead

My background is: a physiotherapist having worked most of my career at Rotherham. I am passionate about efficient and effective patient care.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: working with a varied range of people who are also passionate about patient care and the improvement of service for the people of South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Embedding a person centred approach to improve patient care using the PCS 4 interventions
• Developing protocols for the delivery of a fully sustainable and operational pathway for PSFU in lung, skin, gynae, breast, colorectal and prostate.
• Improving the Breast Pathway

You can talk to me about: anything related to Personalised Care and Support, PSFU and of course the Breast Pathway.

Clare Mallon, Macmillan Cancer Advocacy Improvement Lead

My background is: in information, advice and advocacy. I’ve worked in Higher Education and in the voluntary sector across South Yorkshire. I started my first role in the NHS in January 2022 in our Cancer Alliance.

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: the team. Everyone is genuinely passionate about their work, incredibly supportive and it’s really enjoyable working together to improve cancer care and support for our region.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Developing advocacy principles for the future non-surgical oncology model
• Supporting our People Affected By Cancer Advisory Board 
• Supporting our Acute Oncology and Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) Clinical Delivery Groups

You can talk to me about: anything. If I can’t help, I'll point you in the direction of someone who can

Lauren Dollive, Macmillan Personalised Care Transformation Lead

My background is: in nursing. Working in South Yorkshire as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in cancer emergencies, then as an Advanced clinical practitioner (ACP) in oncology.  I worked as an ACP in General Practice where I saw a wide variety of clinical presentations. I have also recently worked in the private sector in clinical management within digital healthcare. 

The best part about my job is: the team and the people I work alongside. The possibility and opportunity to facilitate change that will positively impact patient experience. 

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Personalised care strategy and collaboration across diverse systems  
• Patient experience and engagement 
• Transformation within personalised care and embedding what matters to people affected by cancer in every part of the journey, working to co-produce this with people with lived experience. 

You can talk to me about: personalised care, primary care, patient experience, non-surgical oncology, anything!

Kate Woods, Project Implementation Officer

My background is: in office management and administration

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: the amazing support and companionship of the team.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

Psycho social support for people affected by cancer, looking to address gaps in South Yorkshire around:

• Clinical support
• Access
• Learning and training for staff
• NHS Talking Therapies

You can talk to me about: support for people affected by cancer, including patients and their friends and families, or my other role outside of the Cancer Alliance team – running a business as an artist!

Orla Reddington, Allied Health Professions (AHP) Programme Lead and Urology Pathway Lead

My background is: in physiotherapy, having worked most of my career (but not all of it) in Rotherham.

The best part about my job is: working with a diverse range of people who are passionate about improving services for the people of South Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and North Derbyshire, where no two days are the same.

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• The development of prehabilitation and rehabilitation services across South Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and North Derbyshire
• Improving the prostate pathway, as well as wider Urology pathway improvements
• The dietetic pathway for people with Upper Gastro-Intestinal (UGI) cancers

You can talk to me about: any thing Allied Health Professional* related, anything Urology and of course prehabilitation and rehabilitation. I also have a keen interest in using behavioural science approaches in the work that I do, having recently graduated from the second cohort of the Behavioural Science Academy.

*to find out more about AHP’s please use this link https://www.england.nhs.uk/ahp/about/

Mel Turton, Senior Project Manager

I am passionate about: ensuring people and their families in the region have equal access to high quality services

The best part about working for the Cancer Alliance is: working within a diverse and highly motivated system

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

• Supporting the system to deliver optimum lung cancer services
• Working with the gynaecology services to improve womens positive outcomes
• Facilitating a programme of work to reduce treatment variations

You can talk to me about: service improvement, lung cancers, equality & diversity, gynaecology cancers, treatment variations and the menopause

Lucy Neale, Project Support Manager

My background is: 

The best part about my job is: 

The top 3 things I am currently working on are:

You can talk to me about: