Challenges facing cancer care and guidance on prioritising its safe delivery: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the NHS to make rapid adjustments to practice to ensure that patients could continue to access vital treatments while reducing the risk of infection. A roundtable discussion was convened, including professionals from cancer care delivery and those working in patient involvement, to discuss experiences during the pandemic and to offer recommendations for the safe transition and implementation of cancer care in the community setting.

Patient empowerment: Its implementation and systems within hospitals in England and Greece.

Introduction: International health policies recognise patient empowerment, resulting in diverse empowerment models and systems. Research on organisational systems for implementing patient empowerment between countries or from organisational stakeholders' perspective, however, is limited. Aims and methodology: This paper explores and compares organisational systems and structures for patient empowerment implementation in six acute public hospitals in England and Greece (three in each country), their cross-case and cross-national similarities and differences.

A critical analysis of national policies, systems, and structures of patient empowerment in England and Greece.

Background: Comparison of patient empowerment (PE) policies in European countries can provide evidence for improvement and reform across different health systems. It may also influence patient and public involvement, patient experience, preference, and adherence.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare PE within national policies, systems, and structures in England and Greece for achieving integrated people-centered health services.

More than what the eye can see: the emotional journey and experience of powerlessness of integrated care service users and their carers.

Purpose: This article presents the emotional journey and experience of powerlessness of integrated care service users and carers.

Materials And Methods: The experiences of seven integrated care service users and carers affected by complex conditions in a London borough were captured as video stories. The integrated care service coordinated a system of health and social care: primary care, community matrons, social workers, and the voluntary sector.

Health-related religious rituals of the Greek Orthodox Church: their uptake and meanings.

Aim: To examine the uptake of religious rituals of the Greek Orthodox Church by relatives of patients in critical condition in Greece and to explore their symbolic representations and spiritual meanings.

Background: Patients and their relatives want to be treated with respect and be supported for their beliefs, practices, customs and rituals. However nurses may not be ready to meet the spiritual needs of relatives of patients, while the health-related religious beliefs, practices and rituals of the Greek Orthodox Christian denomination have not been explored.

Pan-London tuberculosis services: a service evaluation.

Background: London has the largest proportion of tuberculosis (TB) cases of any western European capital, with almost half of new cases drug-resistant. Prevalence varies considerably between and within boroughs with research suggesting inadequate control of TB transmission in London. Economic pressures may exacerbate the already considerable challenges for service organisation and delivery within this context.

The role of religiosity as a coping resource for relatives of critically ill patients in Greece.

Critical care hospitalisation is emotionally overwhelming for the relatives of patients. Research has shown that religiosity is an effective coping resource for people with health related problems and has been correlated with better health outcomes. However the processes by which religiosity is utilized and its effects on relatives of critically ill patients have not been adequately explored.

Listening to those on the frontline: service users' experiences of London tuberculosis services.

Aim: To explore tuberculosis (TB) service users' experiences and satisfaction with care provision.

Background: Thirty-nine percent of all new UK TB cases occur in London. Prevalence varies considerably between and within boroughs.

Implementing a strategy to promote lifelong learning in the primary care workforce: an evaluation of leadership roles, change management approaches, interim challenges and achievements.

Objectives: To identify and explore leadership roles and responsibilities for implementing the workforce development strategy; to identify approaches used to implement and disseminate the strategy; and to identify and explore challenges and achievements in the first 18 months following implementation.

Design: A formative evaluation with qualitative methods was used. Documentary analysis, interviews (n = 29) and two focus groups (n = 12) were conducted with a purposive sample of individuals responsible for strategy implementation.