“This pilot policy has been written with compassion and kindness” was an immediate response from a member of staff on hearing news that the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust has launched a sector-leading new policy to support staff affected by cancer.

The dedicated policy has been developed with guidance from Working With Cancer, a specialist non-profit which supports employers to manage cancer in the workplace.  

Alfredo Thompson, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust’s chief people officer said: “I’m proud to launch our Working With Cancer pilot initiative that lays out how we, as leaders and colleagues, can stand beside our staff when they need us most. This policy is more than process; it’s about compassion, flexibility, and dignity. It’s one of life’s most challenging journeys, and as a Trust, we want to be a place where people feel supported, not just professionally, but humanely. We want RUH to be a place where people feel they can be themselves, ask for help, and trust that we’ll do the right thing. We want our people to know that they matter.” 

The new policy is intended to support team members who receive a cancer diagnosis whether they are in treatment, remission or managing recurrence, someone caring for a loved one with cancer, or anyone working alongside colleagues affected by cancer and wondering how best to help. The policy clarifies all the processes in place that someone can expect to benefit from including up to twelve months full sick pay from the moment of diagnosis and tailored workplace adjustments such as flexible hours and remote working. It includes support for carers, a clear return-to-work and well-being plan which has been co-developed with occupational health. 

Baz Harding-Clark, UNISON Bath Health branch secretary who co-signed the new policy said: “This was a truly collaborative process where we developed the new policy with input from across the Trust under the guidance and support of Working With Cancer.” 

Veronica Foote, Working With Cancer’s (WWC) head of policy and consulting began working with the Bath NHS Trust in early 2024 to support the development of the new policy. She reviewed existing policies and created a working group which included representatives from different departments across the trust, union leadership and people who had been affected by cancer. To enable the cultural and behavioural change needed Veronica, together with WWC’s head of training, ran a masterclass for HR and occupational health professionals which raised awareness of the issues and the impact of cancer in the workplace.  

“We estimate there are now more than a million people of working age with cancer in the workforce,” said Veronica “and that number is increasing. Advances in treatments means that many more people want to continue working, or return to work, if cancer enters their lives. But research we carried out last year with the Institute of Employment Studies found that 96 per cent of organisations do not have a dedicated cancer policy. The Bath initiative is a groundbreaking and best practice policy for NHS employees as it will make a significant difference for those affected by cancer, not only in Bath but potentially for employees across the NHS.”  

The staff member who immediately replied on hearing news of the new policy had already had personal experience of cancer. They said: “I just wanted to write to thank you for the work that has gone into this new pilot policy. I have read it through and I feel it has been written with a true sense of compassion and kindness. Cancer is unfortunately something that has affected my family and I lost my Dad in 2022 from Pancreatic cancer. He was also a very proud RUH employee up until his retirement in 2011. I cared for him in our home until his passing and I was able to continue working at the same time due to the role I was in. With the support of my line manager and my team I was able to work flexibly and fulfil my work obligations whilst providing care for him. I know it hasn’t been the same for others in my situation. This policy will mean a lot to anyone going through a diagnosis of cancer or to those caring for someone they love.” 

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust will now take the learnings from developing the working with cancer policy and over time will expand the policy to apply to other long-term health conditions.