Keeping Our Services Running During the Pandemic

The pandemic has posed huge challenges to all of us.  In terms of CIS providers, we had all the technical and logistical problems of keeping our services running while offices had the close and lockdowns were introduced.  We had the double challenge of keeping our information up to date as instructions specific to cancer patients receiving treatment during the pandemic were developed, and as services were reconfigured to ensure that treatment could be given safely.

At Cancer Research UK we had already put some thought into what we would need to do if our offices needed to close in an emergency.  Our helpline is normally based in our London office and for some years now there has been a chance that there could be disruption to public transport through adverse weather conditions or a terrorist attack in central London that might need us to work remotely.

Because of this all our CIS team have the equipment they need to work remotely as long as they have access to a good internet connection.  We already have one team member who works remotely permanently, and other team members could choose to from time to time and in 2019 we rehearsed having us all work remotely for a day to see if there were any technical problems.

All this planning turned out to be very useful as the pandemic took hold in the UK.  For a number of weeks before the formal lockdown I instructed the CIS team to make sure they took their work laptops and headsets home each night just in case restrictions were placed on public transport or a lockdown was introduced with little warning.  When the time came, we were all well prepared and kept our service running seamlessly.

To keep our team spirit going we have started a daily chat thread using Microsoft Teams, we have also intruded virtual coffee breaks throughout the week and are holding clinical supervision sessions via video conferencing.  We are fortunate that all the team have a spare room in their homes where they can work confidentially.

We don’t yet know when we will be returning to our offices, as in the UK our government are currently encourage people to work from home to try and slow down a second wave of infections. So it looks like at least for now our CIS will continue to be run with staff working remotely.  But after the pandemic, like in many workplaces, I think it is likely that we will continue with a mixed pattern of home and office-based working. 

For further enquiries

Martin.ledwick@cancer.org.uk