New role within Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust set to transform lives of palliative cancer patients
The Jane Tomlinson Appeal has funded a new Senior Physiotherapist role in palliative care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals – creating a position that would not otherwise exist without the charity’s support and significantly extending the care available to cancer patients.
Fully funded for 24 months, the role will see a specialist physiotherapist join an established multidisciplinary team, helping to strengthen and further develop the contribution of physiotherapy within palliative care. By providing expert, hands-on support, the post will play a vital role in improving quality of life for patients with life-limiting conditions, helping them better manage symptoms and maintain independence at a critical stage of care.
The role will also support the ongoing exploration and development of Kinesio (elastic) taping in the management of palliative patients, alongside identifying opportunities to deliver training for healthcare staff in its wider use. This has the potential to expand access to non-invasive treatments and embed new approaches more broadly across care teams.
This work has a deeply personal connection to the Appeal. Research into the potential benefits of Kinesio Taping was one of Jane’s final wishes. Jane herself received the treatment in the final months of her life, and her family saw first-hand the positive difference it made to her comfort and quality of life.
In response, the Appeal funded a three-year PhD at Leeds Beckett University to investigate whether Kinesio Taping could help alleviate symptoms associated with cancer. The findings indicated that the technique may help reduce breathlessness and other symptoms, offering a valuable non-invasive option to support patient care.
The creation of this new role marks the next step in that journey. By funding this position, the Jane Tomlinson Appeal is not only continuing to build on vital research, but also translating it into practical care that will directly benefit patients. Crucially, this additional level of specialist support for people nearing the end of their lives would not be possible without charitable funding.
Suzie Gillon, Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals added: “A specialist physiotherapist working with our team will make such a difference to palliative care patients – helping us offer non-pharmacological approaches to distressing symptoms, and optimising function so that patients are able to do the things that really matter to them towards the end of their lives”
The creation of this new role marks the next step in that journey. By funding this position, the Jane Tomlinson Appeal is not only continuing to build on vital research, but also translating it into practical care that will directly benefit patients. Crucially, this additional level of specialist support for people nearing the end of their lives would not be possible without charitable funding.
The Appeal is encouraging anyone interested to find out more about the role and apply if it suits their skills and experience. Applications close on 3 June 2026.
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Before her death, Jane wanted to ensure that her family could have the chance to find answers that could affect their own health.