What is Right by You Wessex?
Right by You Wessex is a service joint funded by Wessex Cancer Alliance and Macmillan Cancer Support, which is being piloted in two sites in the Wessex region.
We recognise that sometimes despite best efforts, care for people with cancer can feel disjointed, with different services working separately. Right by You is focused on providing joined-up care and more personalised support for people affected by cancer.
Why is this important?
Providing more personalised care is one of NHS England’s priority ambitions outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan (2019).
Personalised care means providing people with the same choice and control over physical and mental health and wellbeing, as they have over every other aspect of their lives. This relies on equal partnership between health and social care professionals and the people who use services; one that seeks to understand the things that matter to individuals, shaping care and support around those needs.
Right by You Wessex offers a new approach to providing personalised support, bridging the gap between primary, community services and secondary care and putting the person with cancer at the centre of support.
Awards for Right By You
Oncology Nurse of the Year Award
On Friday 20 March 2026, the Right By You Team won Oncology Nurse of the Year at the British Journal of Nursing Awards, in association with UKONs.
The award recognises nurses who care for and treat patients with cancer. Many people’s lives are touched by cancer, and whether they practice in hospitals or the community, nurses will find themselves caring at some stage for adults with cancer. This Award has recognised the whole RbY team who have made a demonstrable improvement to the delivery of cancer patient care.
Macmillan Professionals Excellence Award
In November 2023 Right By You Wessex won the Integration Excellence Award which recognises individuals and teams who have improved the coordination of services.
Right by You supports people nearer to home, with dedicated cancer specialists working with GP surgeries, linking to these teams and the services within local communities. This team will be an additional resource to support, linking to hospital based services. The Right by You team will focus on supporting people with their diagnosis and managing the impact cancer on their lives. Support needs will be identified by the person, based on their concerns and the things that matter to them. The person with cancer will be at the centre of this support with teams working together to ensure people get the support they need, when they need it.
We have listened to people with experience of cancer and understand that support is about more than medicine, it is about understanding the things that matter and are important to that person. This will be different for everyone. Right by You will encourage a different type of conversation, putting the person at the centre of conversations and plans. The team will help people to create a plan of support based around their needs, concerns and preferences.
Right by You Wessex has two project sites (highlighted on the map), one in Southampton City and one in West Dorset.
In Southampton City the Right by You team includes Jo Dowle a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Sally Condra a Cancer Support Worker. They will be supporting anyone with a diagnosis of cancer living within the City.
Jo Dowle has 15 years experience working at University Hospitals Southampton as a Pancreatic Cancer Nurse Specialist
Sally Condra has worked in the NHS for several years, working within Mental Health services before taking up a new role as a Cancer Support Worker three years ago. Sally is experienced in providing support for people from diagnosis to help them live well following their diagnosis of cancer.
In Southampton Jo, Amanda and Sally are covering the Southampton City location, and are working closely with selected GP practices from central and north PCN and Solent Community NHS Trust.
Our West Dorset Right by You is located in Portland and Angela is working with Royal Manor Healthcare and the Lantern Project.
Our Clinical Nurse Specialist in Portland is Angela Ingram.
Please visit our public facing website, Cancer Matters Wessex, where you will find all the information and contact details for referrals to the service.
People with experience of cancer will be involved in progressing all aspects of Right by You Wessex.
To do this we have set up an Advisory Group of people with lived experience of cancer. The group has been established for a while now but if you are interested in getting involved in the project Advisory Group, we welcome people of all ages, from all backgrounds and communities.
We look for people who have been affected by cancer who can provide feedback, ask awkward questions, offer thoughts, advice and guidance based on your experience and insight. Your lived experiences of being on the receiving end of health and social care can help to improve how future care is provided.
To date, the group has been involved with issues such as helping to design service awareness leaflets for patients, developing the patient focussed care plan, supporting development of ongoing patient feedback and also the project evaluation.
To find out more, please contact involvingpeople@helpandcare.org.uk
Some of the PAG members are
About me
I am a medical doctor by training, all the way from Stellenbosch in South Africa. I’ve lived and worked in the UK for more than half of my life though, initially in private medical care, then in the NHS studying and working in diagnostic and some forensic pathology.
I now work in Clinical Research in the pharmaceutical industry (for the past 18 years), where my day-job focuses on overseeing two global departments supporting Drug Safety (Pharmacovigilance) and Safety Regulatory Reporting.
I enjoy fly fishing for trout and also kayak fishing in the Solent. Given my passion for cars, old and new, fast and slow, I am practically “a local” at Goodwood (no, I live at least 30 min away!).
About me
Originally from the Midlands, I moved to Dorset in 1975 following 8 years at the University of Essex where I gained a first degree and a PhD in Electronic Engineering. From 1975 to 2012 I worked on underwater acoustics as a research scientist and manager at MOD laboratories in Dorset and Hampshire, also for a year in the USA as an exchange scientist. Since 2013 I have worked part time as a technical advisor for an engineering company in Somerset. In 2006, thanks to an insurance health screen, I was diagnosed with early prostate cancer and was treated using High-Intensity Focussed Ultrasound (HIFU). Following a second HIFU procedure in 2010 my prostate condition has remained stable, with consistently very low PSA levels. Since 2010 I have been a member of a prostate support group in Weymouth and, since 2020, have represented them at various on-line support groups managed by Macmillan and related support organisations. I am providing inputs to the Right by You project as I believe it will help many cancer patients who are currently left with inadequate support following initial diagnosis and treatment. My interests include gardening and travel to show my family some of the fascinating parts of the world that I have visited for my work.
About me
Throughout a life-long career as a healthcare professional, my focus was always patient centred with a strong focus on service improvement, patient safety and quality. Nothing can ever prepare you as a parent to know your child has cancer. Aged 24 our daughter Rachel was diagnosed suddenly with leukaemia May 2019. The shock, fear was palpable. Rachel is now well, treatment complete she moves forward, closely monitored by the very team who delivered outstanding care. Through Cancer Services Partnership (CSP) networking I became aware of the Right by You pilot. The projects vision is so aligned with what I had always believed, everyone when needed, deserves joined up, supportive, personalised care. So now using experience as a cancer patients’ mother, my knowledge and personal skills I am committed to working in partnership with the RbY team, contributing in a small way to the progress of the project, watching it develop and supporting evaluation. I am now fully retired from my career in Health care, fond memories, lessons learnt and remain passionate about being a voice for those that need health care.
About me
I was diagnosed with stage iv de novo breast cancer in September 2011 at the tender age of 37. At the time, I was a dedicated Spanish & French teacher at a local secondary school and a mom to a 4- & 6-year-old. Currently, I’m QA Manager at a Recruitment company. My disease remains stable, and I continue receiving maintenance treatment on a 3-weekly basis through SGH. As a Patient Representative/Advocate I have been involved in many projects with various organisations including PHE and Breast Cancer Now and have attended conferences in the UK and abroad. I am a member of various local support groups and an ambassador of a local charity called força – strength against cancer, founded by my friends when I was first diagnosed. I joined the PPV Forum in January 2020 and that led me to the opportunity to be able to support Wessex Cancer Alliance with the Right by You project. In my free time, I love to spend time with friends and trying to leave this world a better place because I have lived.
Patient Insight to inform the project
To inform early thinking about the project, Macmillan Cancer Support asked Healthwatch Dorset and Healthwatch Southampton to carry out a baseline engagement to find out people’s current experience of getting support, what worked well and not so well. This was done through an online survey and face-to-face interviews in Dorset and Southampton during January & February 2020.
Read the full report from Healthwatch Southampton
Read the full report from Healthwatch Dorset
In addition to this, Wessex Voices reviewed existing public, patient and carer engagement and experience intelligence from local and national sources. This was used to answer some initial questions posed by the Wessex Cancer Alliance Right by You! Project Group to inform our approach to further engagement around local cancer support services. From these findings, we can look at what people have already told us and we didn’t ask them the same questions again. This also helps us focus on areas we know less about.
Read Wessex Voices literature review here.
Covid-19 has also hugely impacted on cancer patients and the support they receive. Again, Wessex Voices have looked at what people were saying about the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on their experiences of health services. People’s feedback covers a range of services and support.
Team member profiles
About me
I have been involved with the Right by You service since 2021. Having worked as a researcher with the Centre for Psychosocial Research in Cancer at the University of Southampton for the past ten years, I was part of the team responsible for evaluating the first phase of the Right by You service between 2020 and 2023. In 2024, I stepped across to become the team’s project manager. I am responsible for collecting and analysing service data, business case development and ongoing service evaluation.
My background includes working both as a junior doctor and a cancer information and support specialist for Macmillan Cancer Support. This experience has been invaluable in understanding the unique and complex support the Right by You service is offering, as well as it’s potential to change the way we deliver effective personalised care and support for people with cancer.
Outside of work I am a mum to two small boys and an avid DIY’er, so I am always on the go!
About me
I qualified as a nurse in 1994 and since then have worked primarily in the oncology and haematology setting. I have worked on inpatient wards, chemotherapy units and a bone marrow transplant unit. I have also worked in cancer research and as a colorectal cancer nurse specialist.
I joined the Right by You project in November 2021 covering Portland in Dorset. The service provides personalised complex psychological, social, and pathway support to patients and their families.
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking, sea swimming, and watching rugby!
About me
I joined the Right by You team in January 2025 as the newest member! I have worked in homeless services for nearly five years in a variety of roles from outreach to housing. I have a passion for supporting the most ostracised groups in society and making the world accessible for those in need.
My role in RBY as care coordinator allows me to draw on my experience and promote personalised care to those who are most vulnerable whether that be preventative support or at point of diagnosis.
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and baking!
About me
With thirty years of experience in various administrative roles within the NHS, I have dedicated my career to supporting healthcare teams and ensuring smooth operations. Over the years, I have held positions such as Estate Improvements Secretary, Directorate Secretary, Personal Assistant, Medical Staffing Coordinator, Colorectal Two Week Wait Data Coordinator and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Clinical Support.
As part of my role as Patient Pathway Navigator in the Right by You team, I introduce the service to new patients and provide a consistent point of contact and support alongside the Right by You nursing team. I am proud to be part of a team that is passionate about delivering personalised care tailored to each patient’s unique needs and preferences.
About me
I moved to Dorset in 2020 as part of an ambitious retirement plan. However, not all plans work out how you expect and I was lucky enough to secure a role as a Macmillan Cancer Support Worker with the Therapy Team at Dorset County Hospital in late 2020. I subsequently started work with Right by You in late 2022, but I manage my time across both roles giving me the advantage of working in hospital and delivering community-based care.
My background was in nursing, in particular critical care settings, followed by legal training and then working in a predominantly consumer law environment. All of which enables me to support colleagues, patients, and their families by utilising a range of skills and knowledge that is not just about care but helps me to take a more holistic and person-centred approach. I have my own case load of patients but I also support the Right by You CNS.
When not at work, I can be found taking part in a variety of sporting activities and living on the coast means I swim all year round in the sea whatever the weather! When not running around I enjoy, art, cooking (especially the eating!), walking the dog and trying my hand at different crafts. Life is never dull in Dorset!!
About me
I joined Wessex Cancer Alliance in July 2018 in a part time role as the Macmillan Lead Nurse. I continued my other role as a Macmillan Consultant Nurse at Southampton Hospital in Gastrointestinal Cancer until I took the lead nurse role in January 2021 on a full-time basis.
I have worked in the NHS for 35 years – having worked in mental health and general nursing. I left my last ward sisters post on an inpatient oncology unit in 1999 to become a Clinical Nurse Specialist. I became the nursing lead for GI cancer in 2005, I was the Lead Cancer Nurse at Southampton in 2008/9 and returned to a Macmillan Consultant Nurse role in 2010. I have also worked closely with the University of Southampton where I completed my PhD in 2010 and have been involved in a number of Research Projects related to cancer with the Macmillan Survivorship Research Group and hold a strong belief in the need for robust evaluation alongside the work we deliver.
I feel very lucky to work with such a talented team and hope the project leads and transforms the way we offer support and care for individuals and their families in a truly meaningful way.
About me
I began my career as a cancer nurse specialist over 14 years ago, working in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) care. Prior to that, I had already spent many years as a nurse—over three decades—working across a range of clinical settings including surgery, elderly care, research nursing, and as a HPB practitioner. Each of these roles shaped my perspective and strengthened my commitment to delivering compassionate, patient-centred care.
Today, I am proud to work with Wessex Cancer Alliance as part of the Right by You Community Outreach Service for Cancer Care. This innovative service is designed to complement existing cancer care by focusing on personalised and supportive care for people and their families. It is a privilege to work alongside an inspirational team, where collaboration and shared values drive every decision we make.
There are so many reasons I feel lucky to be a nurse. Nursing has offered me opportunities to grow, adapt, and connect—with patients, families, and colleagues alike. It is a career that embraces compassion, innovation, and leadership, while never losing sight of the individual behind the diagnosis. It has given me far more enriching moments than challenging ones, and I feel truly fortunate to be part of a profession that continues to inspire, uplift, and make a real difference.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, walking my dog along the Cornish coast, and surfing.
About me
My career has taken me in a variety of settings, mainly intensive care, managing a surgical ward and as a Specialist Breast Cancer Nurse within the hospital and charity sector.
I joined the Right by You team in 2023. It is so important to provide support around what matters to the patient and personalising the care.
I lived in Australia for six years and eventually moved down to Hampshire over eight years ago. I love being close to the sea and spending time going for walks with family and friends. Arts and crafts are also an interest of mine.
About me
I’m Pam and I work 1.5 days alongside all of the Right By You team in my role of Primary Care facilitator.
I am lucky enough to have been present in RBY from the very beginning and be involved in its development into such a welcome personalised service for people and their families affected by cancer.
I offer a bespoke mentorship to Practice Nurses (PNs) working in Primary Care who wish to enhance their role in cancer care and to complete cancer care reviews. I also offer mentorship to our supportive workforce in Primary Care who are involved in the first cancer care review within 3 months of diagnosis.
Since Nov 24 I have been part of a team presenting a series of Wessex-wide evening education sessions for PNs on red flags in the treatment room setting and side effects of treatments, and co-present on the Bournemouth University course for PNs.
I am a PN the other 3 days in another fab team in a GP practice, working in a cancer care role and line manager.
So, the rest of my time…………………simply absorbing life with my family and friends. Love last minute plans for a walk to the beach with a picnic and then some live music to be found on the way back. I am both the first and last on any dance floor!!!!!
Find out more on our Right By You Supporting Primary Care page.
An independent process and outcome evaluation was undertaken alongside the development and delivery of the Right by You service. Please click here to view the findings of the evaluation, completed by the Centre for Psychoscoial Research in Cancer (CentRIC+) at the University of Southampton.
As a pilot service, ongoing evaluation and data collection continue to shape the delivery of Right by You. Please click here to view an update on service delivery in 2025 alongside health service data illustrating the impact on wider health service utilisation and potential scalability of the service.
