At Blue Light Card Foundation, we believe that those who support others through life’s most difficult moments deserve support themselves. That’s why we’re proud to be partnering with University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity to provide compassion fatigue training for their Cancer Care staff.

Every day, cancer nurses and healthcare professionals care for patients and families navigating complex and emotional journeys. While their work is often deeply rewarding, the repeated emotional strain can take a toll, leading to compassion fatigue, a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that affects wellbeing and can impact the care delivered.

This specialist training will equip Cancer Care teams at University Hospitals Dorset with the tools to:

• Recognise the early signs of compassion fatigue

• Develop personal coping strategies

• Strengthen their emotional and mental resilience

Jo Valentine, Lead Cancer Nurse Specialist at UHD, explains:

“Our teams are constantly supporting patients through life-changing diagnoses, treatment and ongoing care. This training helps staff to protect their own wellbeing, so they can continue delivering the highest standards of care while feeling supported themselves.”

Karen Smith, Senior Charity Manager at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, added:

“This is one of the most meaningful projects I’ve had the privilege to be part of. We’re so grateful for the support – it’s going to make a real difference to our colleagues on the cancer wards who work under immense emotional pressure every day.”

Our CEO, Emma Woods-Bolger, said:

“Cancer Care professionals give so much of themselves, often at great personal cost. This initiative gives them the space and skills to care for themselves too, and that’s vital, not just for their wellbeing, but for the patients and families they support.”

This meaningful collaboration reflects our shared commitment to the emotional wellbeing of those on the frontline. 

We look forward to seeing the positive impact this training has across the Cancer Care teams at UHD today, and into the future.