03/09/2026
Our colleagues over in the School of Sport and Exercise Science have been working with the dietetics team at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to develop a tool that identifies risk of malnutrition in cancer patients. The innovative tool and collaboration has won a national award. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing the project to fruition and improving patient experience and outcomes👏
Read the full story below.
The Dietetics team at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has won a top national award for their work developing a predictive tool that identifies head and neck cancer patients at risk of malnutrition, ensuring they can receive all the support they need.
The team has scooped CN Mag’s Geoff Simmonett Award for Commitment to Patient Care 2026 which recognises staff working in dietetics and nutrition who have shown exceptional determination, dedication and compassion during patient-focused nutrition support.
Our Dietetics Team recognised that people with head and neck cancer with low muscle mass are more likely to have severe side-effects that make it difficult for them to tolerate treatment, along with poorer outcomes. This is a particular issue in our patient population so the team went beyond routine clinical practice to look for ways of identifying at-risk patients earlier.
Then they worked with colleagues at Liverpool John Moores University to develop a screening tool using routinely collected measures such as height, weight and handgrip strength and demonstrated it was a strong predictor of low muscle mass.
They are now embedding this tool in their routine assessments so that patients at risk can be identified and supported earlier, before they develop problems. They are also developing an app.
Dietetic Team Leader Wendy Gerrard said on behalf of the team: “We are thrilled to receive this award. This has been an incredibly rewarding partnership between CCC and LJMU and enables us to direct patients to the right nutritional, prehabilitation and rehabilitation support at the right time. We are proud that this collaborative work has been recognised and, most importantly, that it has the potential to make a real difference for patients.”
Award sponsors Nutricia Homeward said: “This fantastic achievement celebrates an exceptional piece of work that demonstrates the very best of patient-centred care, innovation and dietetic leadership. By making early identification of nutritional risk more accessible, the tool enables timely intervention, and helps patients be better prepared for treatment. Their dedication, innovation and unwavering commitment to improving patient care make them truly worthy winners. Their work is already making a difference and will help shape the future of nutrition care for patients with head and neck cancer.”
Congratulations to the Dietetics Team on their fantastic work and their award!
