Oncology nurse and chair of cancer charity, GO Girls, has won a prestigious national award.
Hilary Maxwell, a gynae-oncology clinical nurse specialist at Dorset County Hospital and CEO and Chair of GO Girls has been awarded Oncology Nurse of the Year 2020 by the British Journal of Nursing for the significant contribution to supporting women with gynaecological cancers through the charity GO Girls.
Hilary began her nursing career in 2006. She decided to train as a nurse after her partner passed away from rectal cancer. “I had always wanted to nurse from the age of 18, but then life rather got in the way as my career initially took a different path. When my partner died from rectal cancer, I thought it was now or never before I became too old and grey”, said Hilary.
Listen to this interview with Hilary
Hilary’s own life has not been an easy one. Tinged with the sadness of losing her partner to cancer, she had her own health issues in her 20s, having a hysterectomy aged only 26. “The surgery did not go well and has since left me with a legacy of issues. But I was determined not to be defeated by what had happened and it’s from here that I became passionate about women’s health”, added Hilary.
Before training as a nurse, Hilary directed Endometriosis UK and created significant changes to the ways in which women with endometriosis were managed. This created a change from Government to the grass roots and she describes this as one of her proudest moments.
Training at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, Hilary became actively involved in women’s health and gynae-oncology and after four years as a nurse became Matron at Saint Mary’s Women’s Hospital in Manchester before moving to Dorset to be nearer to family.
“I am deeply honoured to win this award. There is no denying I, and my very small team, have worked phenomenally hard to raise the profile of gynaecological cancers through the GO Girls. Of course, like all charities, it’s been a tough year, but we are still working phenomenally hard to raise awareness and create change.”
Alastair Maxwell, Treasurer of GO Girls and Hilary’s husband said “I am superbly proud of Hilary: I know how hard she has worked – most evenings and weekends – to ensure GO Girls is the success it deserves to be”. Siobhan Griffiths, Trustee and Head of Communications at GO Girls added “In the 5 and half years since GO Girls was launched, Hilary has helped many hundreds of women. To give up this much personal time for others is quite phenomenal. I’ve known Hilary since we studied together in London and even then I thought she’d create something great and she has: we are all very, very proud of her”.
This award comes at the start of September’s Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month where GO Girls are launching their campaign “Women’s Health Matters” to raise awareness of all five gynaecological cancers.
The award was judged by UKONS, the body which represents oncology nurses across the country.
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