Cancer
2nd July 2020
Support for yourself and staff:
Coronavirus advice for care home staff
Managing your mental health during the COVID-19 crisis
16th June 2020
An updated document listing services available to support patients living with and beyond cancer is available here.
11th June 2020
An updated document listing all of the current local services available to support patients living with and beyond cancer at this time is available here.
4th May 2020
Guidance and support for people with cancer during COVID-19 https://www.macmillan.org.uk/coronavirus
24th April 2020
COVID FIT 2ww High Risk Lower GI pathway
For information
Covid 19 has accelerated the interest in the use of FIT in a symptomatic context. We have therefore been working with clinicians in both primary and secondary care -to develop the use of FIT in high risk symptomatic patients who meet the 2WW clinical criteria following national referral guidance.
The letter and pathway attached details the process required in both Primary and secondary care to enable the FIT result to be used as part of the secondary care triage process. The FIT result will help to inform the risk stratification of 2ww patients - as to the timeliness and most appropriate next pathway step.
A FIT Test is to be initiated in Primary care asap, at the same time as the 2ww referral unless there is rectal bleeding when a FIT test is unhelpful. You also will need to request completion of FBC, U&E and Ferritin as we know the FIT test and ferritin level aid clinical triaging of patients. If consultation is face to face also complete DRE if possible.
All patients will have secondary care clinical triage, if specialists decide on alternative treatment the patient will be kept on a tracking list as per normal pathway administrative processes. This will help to ensure safety netting and further follow up at a later date. This will be reviewed routinely by secondary care clinicians.
Patients WILL NOT be discharged off the pathway on the basis of the FIT test alone- as in some patient cohorts such as those with iron deficiency anaemia may have a false negative FIT result.
The pathway will be kept under constant review as the response to COVID changes.
We appreciate your support in the implementation of the COVID FIT 2ww High Risk Lower GI pathway. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Siobhan Lendzionowski at Siobhan.lendzionowski@nhs.net or Janine Quate at Janine.quate@nhs.net
Please note: The procedure for 2WW FIT test request is the same as the one practices have been using for the Low Risk FIT pathway – this includes using the same clinical code (READ/SNOMED); FIT test packs and notification of the results via ICE. The only additional action we are asking if for you to undertake is on the 2WW referral form under OTHER INFORMATION write if the patient has been given FIT to complete and postal return to lab.
9th April 2020
Updated - Cancer support services response to COVID 19
For information
Through the LWABC programme the Cancer Alliance continue to work closely with local cancer support organisations to support the huge numbers of people during and beyond their cancer treatment. Current provision: Cancer Support Workers are working to deliver a support service out of the Well building. They will contact all patients on the books at the Well and work with the clinical teams to provide support to all their patients. All face to face support has stopped, however they will contact by phone. We will contact all patients past, present or future who may need us. The contact will be low level wellbeing support and not clinical but patients will be directed where possible.
See attached guidance and daily brief from SYB ICS cancer alliance team.
6th April 2020
Macmillan iHOPE (Help Overcoming Problems Effectively) Online Course for people living with or after a cancer diagnosis
For information
Macmillan are offering an online peer group support self management course which is particularly relevant at the moment. The course helps to build resilience, rediscover strengths and increase your ability to cope through their programme called iHope (Help Overcoming Problems Effectively). It's a six week programme, involving a minimum of two hours per week, at a time to suit you, if you have access to the internet via smartphone, tablet or PC. Topics include smarter goal setting; priorities and values; living positively with fears for the future; eating well; managing stress and finding things to be thankful for. Start dates for each course are 6 April; 4 May and 1 June.
Macmillan Cancer Support
For information
We’re doing everything we can to support people living with cancer right now and have updated our dedicated coronavirus information pages with a wide range of support. This includes information on how to deal with social isolation, how to access financial support, end of life care and how coronavirus may impact on a patient’s cancer treatment. There are also now pages specifically for professionals, covering resilience and how to look after your mental wellbeing.
The Macmillan Learn Zone will also be providing additional information and learning resources. If you’re not already signed up, create an account here.
Call the Macmillan Cancer Support Line for free 7 days a week 9am-5pm 0800 808 00 00.
Stay connected from the safety of your own home - join our Online Community, talk to people who know what you're going through and ask our experts your questions.
3rd April 2020
Support for People with Cancer
BHNFT Cancer Support Workers are working to deliver a support service out of the Well Centre. Two of the support workers will base themselves within the Well Centre building. They will contact all patients on the books at the Well and work with the clinical teams to provide support to all their patients. All face to face support has stopped at the Well Centre however they will contact individuals by phone. The Well Centre Tel: 01226 733019 http://www.thewellforwellbeing.org.uk/
31st March 2020
Advice on maintaining cancer treatment during the COVID-19 response
Guidance for the NHS to ensure that cancer diagnosis, treatment and care continues during the response to the COVID-19 emergency. The guidance can be found here:
In summary:
- Essential and urgent cancer treatments must continue. Cancer specialists should discuss with their patients whether it is riskier for them to undergo or to delay treatment at this time.
- Where referrals or treatment plans depart from normal practice, safety netting must be in place so that patients can be followed up.
- Urgent consideration should be given to consolidating cancer surgery in a COVID-free hub, with centralised triage to prioritise patients based on clinical need.