Cancer East of England
This innovative project, fully funded by NHS England: East of England, integrated the Bridges approach to supporting self-management within Cancer services and evaluated the impact on staff, patients, teams and service pathways.
As part of this region-wide work, we were commissioned to deliver Bridges self-management support training to 200 healthcare practitioners across cancer teams and pathways, working across acute, community and primary care settings with practitioners working in patient facing roles.
We’ve worked with Clinical Nurse Specialists, Cancer Navigators, Care Coordinators, GPs and Health and Wellbeing Coaches to name a few!
Bridges training has been adapted to cancer services from our work with people living with cancer to design our Living With & Beyond Cancer book, and from engagement with local Patient Partnership Groups.
As part of the training, practitioners receive the Living With & Beyond Cancer books, co-designed books full of stories, hints and tips from people living with and beyond cancer, focusing on the point in a patient’s journey where there is a pause or end in treatment. This book isn’t just more information, it is a guided way to support self-management, making it a fantastic tool to use with patients.
Impact we have seen so far
So far, since their training, practitioners have reported an increase in knowledge about how to integrate the core principles of an effective self-management approach such as Bridges.
They have learnt new language and skills to support effective self-management. They report increased confidence to be able to integrate self-efficacy and self-management principles into their work.
- 99% are now confident providing self-management support
- 85% report listening more, and allowing patients to lead
- 83% now focus on patients’ own expertise
- 92% agreed that the Bridges self-management approach will have positive impact on their day-to-day work
Qualitative analysis of practitioners’ case reflections following training has shown:
- Greater emotional fulfilment and a strengthened sense of purpose
- Increased confidence in their professional role and validation of their skills
- Joy in watching patients discover their own solutions
Bridges evidence and other research shows use of these skills and language has a positive impact on patients with long-term conditions such as living with cancer.
This way of working supports patients to develop greater self-efficacy, which is a predictor of successful self-management. If patients are more confident to self-manage their long-term condition, they are more likely to overcome setbacks and feel more in control. (Busse and Jones et al, 2025).
When practitioners integrate Bridges self-management into their practice, the change in self-efficacy experienced by patients leads to improvements in their emotional wellbeing, increases in symptom control, and greater ability to engage in activities that matter to them (Jones et al., 2024).
Recent research has shown that patients are then less reliant on healthcare services for support, which frees up capacity across services by reducing caseloads and waiting lists (Health Economics Paper in Review).
Testimonials
At present, the most noticeable difference is in establishing an effective therapeutic relationship very quickly. I have more of a sense of ‘working together’ with a person, and they seem to feel listened to and more empowered.Physiotherapist, Community Oncology and Specialist Palliative Physiotherapy Team, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
As a Cancer Nurse I wanted to fix every issue for the patient; however, the course has taught me that it is a combined effort between patient and professional. I would absolutely recommend the Bridges training. I want all my team to do it.Cancer Nurse, James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The Bridges Self-management program is an excellent program as it benefits both patients and families and staff. The approaches to self-management discussed in the program have armed me with vital information to be able to support and coach my patients now and in the future.Cancer Nurse, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Want to find out more about Bridges training for your cancer team? Chat to us today