Members of our Clinical Health Psychology Department presented at the inaugural Association of Clinical Psychologists UK (ACP-UK) Psycho-oncology, Cancer and Palliative care (PSYCAP 2026) Conference this month. This was a national event, bringing together psychology professionals working in cancer and palliative care services across the country and a fantastic opportunity to share some of the innovative work taking place within our team and to represent CHFT on a national stage.

Principle Clinical Psychologist and Cancer Psychological Services Lead, Dr Jaime Wood, and Assistant Psychologist, Elle Colbeck, presented on the development and delivery of a pilot Level 1 Psychological Skills Training programme for Cancer Care Coordinators and Care Navigators at CHFT, which aimed to build confidence and skills in supporting patients’ psychological wellbeing. Clinical Psychologist, Dr Jess Macintyre-Holt, shared findings from her thesis exploring the experiences of bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy among people at moderate risk of breast cancer.

Both presentations were very well received, and Jess was awarded the Best Early Career Presentation prize in recognition of her outstanding work.

Jaime said: “Attending this event was special to me because the ACP-UK PSYCAP group was newly formed last year to support the work we do in Cancer Psychological Services. It was an opportunity to meet colleagues in person whom I have known for years but only ever met on screen. We came away having made some important connections and with lots of ideas about how to continue offering specialist psychological support to those living with cancer.”

Jess added: “This event offered a wonderful opportunity to meet colleagues in health psychology and to learn about all the fantastic pieces of work cancer and palliative psychology services are doing across the UK. I think we all left with lots of ideas on ways to develop inclusive and effective health psychology services.”

Congratulations to Jaime, Elle, and Jess for showcasing the excellent work being carried out at CHFT and contributing to developments in cancer psychology services nationally.