Ongoing professional development plays a vital role in delivering high-quality care and services. Kingston Hospital Charity helps ensure that development opportunities are available across the organisation, supporting staff in expanding their knowledge, skills, and impact on patient care.

Recently, charitable funding supported Christiane and Ulrike, Joint Service Leads of Kingston Hospital’s Cancer Counselling Service, to attend a specialist conference on cancer and parenting. The event was a catalyst for meaningful change, inspiring them to launch patient workshops aimed at helping parents with cancer communicate more effectively with their children. Two successful workshops have already been held at the Macmillan Centre, with more planned. In addition, the team received funding to complete training in systemic therapy in the context of serious illness, deepening their ability to support patients through complex family dynamics.

“Attending the conference on cancer and parenting inspired us to take practical steps in supporting patients who are also parents. It opened up new ways to help them navigate the challenges of talking to their children about cancer,” said Ulrike.

Charitable support also enabled Arlene, a Plaster Technician, to undertake the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) Casting Course—the only nationally recognised qualification in casting since 1982 for Orthopaedic Practitioners and Nurses involved in casting and splinting. On successful outcome of the course, Arlene moved up the pay scale.

“The course was an intense experience—unlike anything I’ve done before,” Arlene shared. “It involved a lot of revision and in-depth learning, particularly around anatomy, which is so important when treating patients. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone was challenging, but I felt fully supported by my colleagues and by Kingston Hospital Charity, who funded the course. Having this knowledge has given me the confidence that I’m doing the right thing to help and support patients. I feel really proud of what I’ve achieved, and I couldn’t have done it without the Charity’s support.”

These stories highlight the meaningful impact that charitable funding has on staff development and, ultimately, patient care. By investing in people, we continue to strengthen the services we provide across Kingston Hospital.