Overview of an acute oncology service in a UK cancer centre

Abstract

Background: In the UK there has been increasing emphasis on the ability to review oncology patients who are admitted as an emergency. Two reports, NCEPOD report into systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy: For better, for worse? (2008) and the NPSA Report 'Patient safety risks of incorrect dosing of oral anti-cancer medicines' (2008) identified shortcomings in the manner in which patients presenting to emergency departments following systemic anti-cancer treatmentrs (SACT) were cared for. This had led to increased mortality, morbidity and extended lengths of stay. In addition to the above patients presenting as an emergency with Metastatic Spinal cord compression were found to have delays in urgent treatment and patients who had a cancer diagnosis following an emergency admission had poortrer outcomes than those identified in a more controlled fashion. At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation trust we responded to NHS England guidance by establishing an oncologist-led acute oncology service with nursing support. We have been succesful in reducing length of stay for oncology patients, forming sucesaful partnerships with acute physicians, succeasfully auditing and treating neutropaenic sepsis and bringing in a 7 day Acute Oncology service. This poster p[resentation will provide an overview of this service as part of the Oncology Nursing Track. Methods: The presentation will cover a narrative overview of our experience of establishing, auditing and developing an Acute Oncology Service at a busy District General Hospital with a Cancer Centre. We will present audit information to support this narrative review. Results: We will present data covering Acute Oncology activity, effectiveness, presentation and referral by tumour group, referral type and source. This will be presented in graphical format in order to support the narrative review. Conclusions: The overall conclusions will outline our generally positive exprience of establishing and developing Acute Oncology services. We hope that this will be relevant to others wishing to do the same across Europe.