The service provides specialist support for eligible patients receiving additional oral treatment following their initial treatment for early breast cancer. By placing pharmacists at the centre of this aspect of care, patients benefit from regular, consistent appointments with professionals who have specialist knowledge of their medication, understand their treatment and are well placed to support them throughout their care.
The clinic was developed following the availability of West Midlands Cancer Alliance funding for pharmacist-led services and is available only for patients who are taking Abemaciclib or ribociclib as part of their treatment for early breast cancer.
The Trust is focusing on transforming and improving the way in which it delivers its services through best use of its resources; and through the utilisation of Pharmacists, the model ensures patients are seen by the healthcare professional best suited to their needs, providing expert advice and personalised support while helping patients feel confident in managing their treatment.
Lindsey Beddall was among the first patients to join the clinic in October 2025. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, Lindsey underwent a lumpectomy, lymph node clearance, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, all of which brought their own side effects. Managing ongoing treatment afterwards brought further challenges, and she sometimes felt worried and overwhelmed by changes to her medication.
Working closely with Rebecca, the pharmacist leading her care, Lindsey was able to receive clear advice and reassurance, helping her understand changes to her treatment and manage side effects. Rebecca also arranged home deliveries when needed and advised her on additional medicines and creams to support her recovery and wellbeing.
Lindsey said: “Rebecca has been a fantastic support, offering clear advice and reassurance and explaining any changes in a way I can understand. She has also arranged home deliveries when needed and advised me on additional medicines and creams to help manage side effects and support my recovery and wellbeing.
“The service has made a real difference to me. It saves me time and money travelling to appointments, and I’m sure it also frees up nurses’ and consultants’ time to help other patients.”
Patient feedback has also been positive, with 92.4 per cent of patients satisfied with the clinic and 100 per cent satisfied with the pharmacist delivering their care. Patients have described their experiences positively, saying: “My concerns were always addressed” and “I was treated with the utmost respect.”
Rebecca Pollard, Lead Pharmacist for Cancer Services at The Dudley Group, said: “The clinic started because we identified a gap in the service, but it has become so much more than that. Supporting these patients has taught me so much, and I’m incredibly grateful to be able to make a difference to their care.
“Being able to see the impact the service has had on patients’ lives, and hearing their positive feedback, has been wonderful. This has been a real team effort, and I’m hugely grateful to everyone across Pharmacy, Oncology and our wider teams who has supported the clinic, as well as the patients who trusted us when the service was first introduced.”
The clinic provides continuity of care, with patients seeing the same pharmacist prescriber or a dedicated colleague at each appointment. This helps build trusted relationships and gives patients a consistent point of contact as they navigate treatment following a breast cancer diagnosis.
The service has been developed through close collaboration across Pharmacy, Oncology and administrative teams. The clinic also demonstrates how improvement work can help services evidence their impact and build a case for sustainable, long-term delivery. Support from the Trust’s Improvement Team helped demonstrate the benefits of the service to senior leaders and support plans for its continuation.
By using pharmacists’ specialist skills in new ways, the clinic offers opportunities to develop similar services in other areas of cancer care and beyond, subject to funding and service requirements.
The project reflects the NHS’s wider ambition to deliver more personalised care, make better use of the skills of its workforce and help prevent cancer from returning wherever possible.
Diane Wake, Group Chief Executive at The Dudley Group said, “This clinic is a fantastic example of how our teams are finding new ways to improve patient care while making the best use of our NHS resources. By using the specialist skills of our pharmacists, we’re helping patients feel supported and confident in managing their treatment,
“I’m incredibly proud of the colleagues who have worked together to develop this service, and it shows why continuous improvement is so important. By listening to patients, supporting our staff to innovate and sharing what works, we can continue to make a real difference to people’s experiences of care.”
The Improvement Showcase provided an opportunity for colleagues across The Dudley Group and Sandwell and West Birmingham to learn from projects like this, share best practice and explore how successful ideas could be developed further to improve care for patients across the region.