Chapman Barker Unit shortlisted for GM Cancer Awards
Congratulations to the Chapman Barker Unit (CBU), who have been shortlisted for the Greater Manchester Cancer Awards!
The team are in the running for the prestigious Collaboration Award, recognising their exceptional partner work with colleagues at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
Teams at the CBU and The Christie work closely together through their pioneering RADAR pathway, that supports patients who face the dual challenges of cancer and addiction, ensuring no one is excluded from treatment because of complex needs.
The project brings together the Chapman Barker Unit and The Christie Supportive Oncology Team, who both recognised that patients with cancer and addiction often fall between organisational boundaries, resulting in lower treatment completion rates, higher levels of missed appointments and increased emergency admissions. The pathway is specifically designed to remove barriers and ensure fair access to life‑saving cancer treatment.
The impact of the pathway is clear: patients who previously struggled to navigate services are now completing detox and successfully finishing their cancer treatment. One patient’s experience illustrates the impact by describing the treatment he received at the CBU as “life‑changing”, as he went on to complete cancer treatment, remain alcohol‑free and rebuild a meaningful life.
Crucially, every patient who completed detox at CBU has went on to successfully complete their cancer treatment at The Christie, demonstrating the pathway’s effectiveness in improving engagement and supporting continuity of care.
Janella Anderson, Ward Manager at the CBU said:
“This is likely the only pathway of its kind in the UK and is vital for breaking down long‑standing barriers for patients with trauma, disadvantage and alcohol dependence. Those that access this pathway are often labelled ‘hard to engage’, so it is incredibly rewarding to see patients who previously struggled to navigate services are now completing life‑saving oncology care"
This collaboration demonstrates how integrated, person‑centred care can transform outcomes for some of Greater Manchester’s most vulnerable cancer patients, and how cross‑organisational working can remove barriers to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for service users.
We wish the team the best of luck at the GM Cancer Awards, which takes place in next month (12 May 2026).
