A UK-first has happened at Basingstoke hospital to help people with an extremely rare type of cancer.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust nurse Samantha Westbrook has become the UK’s first specialist nurse for a rare asbestos-related cancer.

Samantha has taken up the role of peritoneal mesothelioma clinical nurse specialist.

She is based at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, with the funding for the role being provided by national charity Mesothelioma UK.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is an extremely rare, asbestos-related cancer arising from the peritoneum, or lining of the abdomen. The majority of patients are treated using chemotherapy alone, but a surgical option is available for suitable patients.

Basingstoke hospital is the largest centre in the world for treating patients with peritoneal malignancies, including peritoneal mesothelioma, making it the obvious base for Samantha, who has spent the last five years working as a lung cancer nurse with the trust, dealing with oncology and pleural mesothelioma cases.

In her new role, Samantha will work alongside the nationwide peritoneal malignancy multi-disciplinary team to support, advise and signpost peritoneal mesothelioma patients and their families from across the UK.

She will also help to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments that are not currently commissioned by the NHS.

Samantha said: “I’m bringing experience in critical care, lung cancer and oncology to this new role and am really looking forward to specialising in this particular area.

“My appointment will enable me to fully support peritoneal mesothelioma patients in a ‘key worker’ capacity to ensure that they get the best attention possible.

“I’m also interested in looking at the research side of the patient diagnosis and journey, and seeing how this data can help to influence my role and our approach to treating peritoneal mesothelioma over time.”

Julie Dawes, chief nurse at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, and Andover War Memorial Hospital, said: “We are delighted to have been able to appoint Samantha to this new role and we are very grateful to Mesothelioma UK for providing the funding to make it happen.

“Having the UK’s first specialist nurse in this particular form of cancer will make a big difference not only for patients in Hampshire, but across the entire country."

Liz Darlison, Mesothelioma UK head of services, added: “Mesothelioma UK is committed to doing all that we can to improve services and access to treatment and care for those affected by Peritoneal Mesothelioma.

“Appointing Samantha into this post is a major step that we are delighted to reach and we are so thankful for all the Mesothelioma UK supporters whose generation donations have made this possible.

“Samantha will be working closely with the charity’s team of 20 nurses who are based all over the UK to ensure, regardless of where you live, if you are affected by peritoneal mesothelioma you will have access to the best treatment and care available.”