“I’m on a watch and wait: waiting for what, until I’m dead?”; “I don’t care that I am assessed as low risk, it doesn’t stop me from being worried about every twinge or cough”

"When I finished my treatment my nurse gave me a little card with her name and number, the consultant's name and number and the clinics number. She said that any worries or concerns I had just to pick up the phone and call one of those numbers. I carry this card in my wallet and just knowing it's in there makes me feel reassured. (Prostate, Lincoln)"

Anecdotal:  "Stark variation observed in patient preferences during previous engagement – some rely on their regular check ups as a reassurance that all is well, whilst for others they dread the run up to their follow up and surveillance – they can’t wait to get out of the system, and feel confident enough to re-access support if they need it.  We need to find ways to support both patients effectively"

"Many outpatient follow up appointments offer little value to the patient.  Large proportions are scheduled simply to convey a test result." ref: Stratified Pathways of care for people living with or beyond cancer.

So benefits are:

  • fewer visits to hospital where they are of no benefit to the patient.
  • more time in clinics when needed because only people who need to attend are there.
  • a more tailored approach to care in place of the current ‘one size fits all’ approach.
  • reduction in the cost of attending follow up clinics.
  • easy access back into the system when requested/needed.

 

Slides in this section are taken from a presentation by
Dr Dorothy Gooddard,
Macmillan Consultant Medical Advisor Survivorship in 2014

http://www.swscn.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Breast-Cancer-Risk-Stratified-pathway-Dorothy-Goddard.pdf

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