A specialist nurse dedicated to improving care for patients with pleural disease, including those with mesothelioma has been given funding by Scotland’s leading asbestos charity Action on Asbestos. The new pleural specialist nurse will be based within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and will see patients from throughout the West of Scotland.
Phyllis Craig MBE, charity Director commented:
The appointment of Laura McNaughton represents an enormous step forward for the care of men and women across the west of Scotland diagnosed with a range of pleural diseases, often linked to asbestos exposure, including, mesothelioma, which will be a particular area offered support, is a devastating illness and Scotland has particularly high levels of people living with this condition. Laura’s medical knowledge of this illness, along with her professionalism and compassion, will be of huge help to victims and their families. This is the second Specialist Nurse that the charity has funded.
Phyllis added:
Sometimes people are misled by the name of our charity and think that we only operate in the West of Scotland or along the Clydeside in Glasgow. However we provide our services to those diagnosed with an asbestos condition throughout Scotland and are delighted to be in a position to fund a specialist nurse in the East and West of Scotland.
Laura McNaughton said:
I am delighted to be given the opportunity to work as a CAA Nurse Specialist within the pleural team at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. I have previously worked in respiratory medicine and over the last year have looked after patients with Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related lung conditions. I’m interested in looking at the patient journey to see how we can improve patient experience and our approach to treating pleural diseases.
Laura’s appointment was also welcomed by Dr. Kevin Blyth, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, who specialises in pleural disease and, in particular, mesothelioma:
Firstly I’d like to thank Clydeside Action on Asbestos for making Laura’s new job possible. Having a specialist nurse in this area will be of huge help to me and my colleagues within the Pleural unit, as patients with this condition need dedicated and specialist care.
Phyllis added:
We already provide advice about benefit entitlement and compensation to people who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, and also have support groups running in the north, south, east and west of Scotland. We are now in a position to build on this by directly helping people to manage their illness in both the East and West of Scotland through our Specialist Nurses.
Anas Sarwar MSP:
I am delighted that Clydeside Action on Asbestos has sponsored a pleural nurse who will be based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The specialist nurse will oversee those diagnosed with many of the lung conditions prevalent to the people of Glasgow; including asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma. Clydeside Action on Asbestos now sponsors two specialist nurses to help care for those with respiratory conditions in both the East and West of Scotland. I am extremely proud of the efforts of this charity and will continue to assist them in whatever way I can
We fund Continuing Professional Development (CPD) support for nurses in Scotland
Scottish nurses are to benefit from a new fund that has been launched by Action on Asbestos (CAA). The charity has been able to launch the fund following a donation from Dr Michael Crawford in memory of his late wife, Dr Audrey Finnegan Crawford, who died as a result of mesothelioma in 2013. The fund will be named after Audrey: Dr Audrey Finnegan Crawford Memorial Fund
