Greater Manchester to provide crucial training for health workers

Over 1000 health workers in Greater Manchester are set to receive training to support cancer patients.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has awarded a contract, worth £1.2m, to the University of Salford to launch the Allies in Cancer Care training programme. 

The programme is part of the three-year Skills for Growth project and has been made possible through the European Social Fund.

Delivered in collaboration with The Christie School of Oncology, the scheme is aiming to equip health workers with the skills required to provide better patient care for people with cancer. 

In January 2021, Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance collaborated with the Northwest Cancer Alliances to conduct a North-West allied Health professionals survey. Both authorities were looking to assess the need for additional cancer training – specifically for staff in more generalist roles across the region. 

Currently, Allied healthcare professionals make up the third largest professional workforce in the NHS spanning 14 disciplines. From this statistic, Greater Manchester have 5000 professionals and almost 1000 support staff. GMCA looked to address the gap in training and education by committing to invest in the coaching required. 

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Greater Manchester’s Lead for Education, Work, Skills, Apprenticeships and Digital, said: ‘Everyone deserves high-quality health care and that begins with accessible and affordable training for healthcare professionals.

‘Supporting our health workforce is one of our highest priorities. Our communities have been telling us about how crucial good social healthcare is.’

Professor Richard Fuller, Director of Christie Education and Honorary Consultant Stroke Physician, said: ‘One in two of us will get cancer at some point in our lives, so it’s essential that all healthcare professionals are supported through excellence in education to provide outstanding patient care.

‘Christie Education, a world-class teaching centre, is here to do just that by learning from, and with, patients and professionals. We’re delighted to be working with The University of Salford to deliver this training.’