Caroline's Blog

All the better if its a local show performed by local lads. And even better if its a group that has blown the music industry away with one of the world's greatest come-backs.

Yes, I love Take That.

I joined over 55,000 people to see their concert this weekend and it was truly fantastic. Maybe I'm just getting old but I think they look and sound better than ever. But then I think anyone who is written off, put out to pasture or told they've reached their peak - who then blows the cynics away by coming back sharper and stronger than before - is a impressive example of what can be achieved. In smaller ways as well. After all we're not all global popstars.

And Gary, Jason, Howard and Mark. If you ever want to visit the Christie, we would absolutely love to show you around.

I was at the concert with some business colleagues as well as friends. And the music must have inspired us as we came up with some exciting partnership ideas. A great show can help create great ideas.

But last week didn't start off well. Our house was broken into and my car stolen. I felt so upset that someone had been in our home when we were all sleeping. The police said its one professional gang currently working the area, and they were so helpful and supportive, but it makes you feel vulnerable. My car has been found, although not returned yet.

I just hate the fact that my children could have witnessed anything. But they slept through, no doubt exhausted from all the practising for their school summer shows and sports days.

I'm trying to make sure I can get to see them all. My life is one tricky balancing act. George, my son jokes about the fact his mother is a figment of his imagination. But then he also says he's really proud of me and the fact I work so hard for the patients.

And I'll be a super-proud mum at my children's summer shows, which I know I'll enjoy as much as Take That.

I had the privilege of meeting playwrite Alan Bennett on Wednesday night. A modest, unassuming Yorkshireman true to his roots who is an exceptional talent and a great observer of life. He came on a bicycle which says a lot about the kind of man he is.

It was a Christie charity event in London and BBC Radio Four's Jenni Murray interviewed Alan Bennett in front of invited guests from charitable organisations based in the capital.

Both of them provided a wonderful evening of entertainment and we are so grateful for their support. Jenni is the chair of our new Christie Supporters Club and is really helping our charity raise its profile in key areas amongst key audiences. As an ex-patient she has become a passionate advocate of the Christie but also a friend. I love her fabulous company and sense of humour.

So it was a fun night but with a serious message. I talked about the role of the Christie on a national and international level in terms of our research. We have been officially ranked as undertaking the best cancer research in the UK and our research has helped develop successful new treatments which are used across the globe.

And success will build on success. More financial support means more research which means more advancements which means more experts want to work here …and so on. And the people who benefit from all of this are cancer patients.  Cancer patients everywhere. 

I left the event feeling happy and proud.

I attended the annual NHS Confederation conference last week.

It was strange going straight from the announcement that we were getting our £6.5m back to the conference. I had to readjust from the relief and delight that our charity money was being returned, to discussing the huge challenges ahead for the NHS as the recession takes us into a new era.

Efficiency savings will have to be made by all NHS organisations, whilst still delivering the highest quality care and treatment to increasing numbers of patients.

Its a challenge we're prepared for at the Christie, and in a very strong and stable position to address. Nevertheless, tough times are ahead and ironically its when we will need the amazing support of our supporters all the more.

It was nice however to catch up with so many people at the national conference. Relaxed chats with friends as well as focused networking. We're all so incredibly busy the rest of the time that its one of the benefits of conferences like these.

And straight after the confrence I went to Cheltenham for the weekend. I hardly ever visit Cheltenham, and this trip was planned a while ago, but the last weekend I was there was in October, when we found out our money had been frozen.

A strange coincidence but uncanny all the same. Alls well that ends well though and I took the opportunity to happily toast everyone who had helped us.

Yesterday was such an eventful day with the announcement that we were getting our £6.5m back.

My phone never stopped ringing, and I've become used to surprises, but even I was taken aback when Gordon Brown personally rang me to say how pleased he was that we had found a local solution to the issue.

It was an honour to receive such a phone-call from the Prime Minister himself, especially as he is such an incredibly busy man who has a lot of difficult issues to deal with at the moment.

But he made time to make an appreciated call. He praised the Christie during our chat, and it also gave me the opportunity to talk about the difference that strong investment in the NHS over the last 10 years has made to patients.

A good ending to a good day which is all about the good of our patients.

I can’t describe how thankful I feel today that our strategic health authority, NHS North West, has announced it will be giving us the £6.5 million pounds that was lost in the banking collapse.

I am delighted for the 100,000 people who supported the campaign, our amazing fundraisers and donors who are so generous and tireless in their support, our staff who work so hard - but most of all I'm delighted for our patients. They will benefit from this money, and they are the people that have spurred everyone to work so hard to find a solution.

This money was raised by the dedicated people of the North West who gave up their own time to help cancer patients, and I’m delighted the money is back where it rightfully belongs.

The strategic health authority knows just how important this money is for the future services and care of cancer patients.  It knows what a vital role The Christie plays for the seven million people who live in the region, and so it did what it could to find a solution.  It identified opportunities from across its building development scheme to bring about today’s announcement, which will not compromise other NHS services or plans.

Since the news broke first thing this morning, there’s been such a buzz around the hospital with patients, staff and visitors all speaking about how thrilled they are with the news and I’ve been inundated with so many heartfelt messages.

It’s been an emotional and difficult time and the level of public support has been indescribable.  The story has made not only made local and regional news, but national media too, and our head of charity, Louise Hadley has been on air thanking everyone for their fantastic support.

It’s onwards and upwards now but we still need everyone's wonderful support.  We will never tire in our efforts to deliver the best possible care and treatment to cancer patients.

I've received a letter today from the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and he highlights just how special this place is

Cancer is a traumatic illness to deal with at any age. But imagine having to cope with this when you are a teenager.

Old enough to be fully aware and terrified of the potential implications, but just coming up to adulthood. And we all know, having been teenagers ourselves, you really need to be close to people your own age at this critical stage of your life. To talk about and share your experiences.

That's why our teenage cancer unit is so important. Its one of only eight dedicated teenage cancer units in the country and merits all the national awards, praise and support it routinely gets.

Everything about the unit, from the environment to the support services, is tailor-made for young people. And all the evidence shows that this kind of environment helps them not only manage better emotionally, but also respond to and recover from treatment better.

Its a special place, with special people, but a lot of that is down to the tremendous support that it gets. Support from the Teenage Cancer Trust, our charity fundraisers and too many others to mention.

And yesterday, thanks to this support, we officially opened a new day case area and suite of chill-out rooms in the unit. It gave us a chance to thank many of the generous contributors.

The unit treats about 130 new patients a year from across the North West, but as our referrals increase and advances in cancer treatment enable us to do more on a day-case basis, we wanted to expand and enhance the facility.

The extension has made a real difference to the unit. And its just what our young patients deserve. The best possible care in the best possible place.