Claire O'Rourke
Cancer Care has been a life-long passion of mine and I have worked in cancer services most of my NHS Career in Greater Manchester, I therefore have had the privilege to have gained a wealth of Clinical and Senior Management experience over the last 20 years.
My career began as oncology Nurse at the Christie in 2002, working with patients with complex cancer needs and palliative care, having the privileged to support cancer patients and their families through their most difficult times at the end of life. I had a keen interest in cancer research and pursued a career in breast cancer research for 3 years, running several nurse led clinics at this time. I subsequently worked as a transformation project lead for 2 years to firstly to redesign chemotherapy pathways and to review bed capacity plans, as well as opening up a day case service unit with acute oncology provision. The next 4 years I was a Senior Operational Manager at the Christie, managing palliative and psychology services, acute oncology, critical care services and devised the business plan for the Maggie's Centre at Christies.
I took up my role at Greater Manchester (GM) Cancer in 2016, developing plans to redesign pathways for lung cancer and head & neck patients and review the Cancer strategy for GM, as well as working alongside the Cancer Vanguard programme. I moved to role of Associate Director of GM Cancer in 2018 and I am now the Managing Director of the Alliance driving the delivery of the GM Cancer plan and delivery of the Long Term Plan for Cancer in GM. During the last year of the pandemic, along with Professor Dave Shackley and the team at GM Cancer, we have led the system response on Cancer and supported in the delivery of regional and national plans to sustain cancer services in GM. I am now responsible, along with our team at GM Cancer, in the recovery of cancer services in GM and delivery of the new ambitions set out in the LTP and many other innovative programmes of work.
My priority is to continue to ensure all Cancer patients in GM are diagnosed, treated and received the best cancer outcomes possible, with the support of our passionate, committed team at GM Cancer.
Outside of work I am an avid long distance Ultra runner and a keen fundraiser for Cancer charities alongside my family.