Improving outcomes for people with skin tumours including melanoma

Improving Outcomes for
People with Skin Tumours
including Melanoma
Patient-centred care
An audit of skin cancer MDT activity undertaken in the South West of
England found that many trusts did not have sufficient infrastructure
to ensure that patients are offered trial entry.
An audit of implementation of recommendations made in the
Calman–Hine Report (1995) undertaken by the Commission for Health
Improvement (CHI) and the Audit Commission in 2001 found that
only a small proportion of patients with cancer are involved in
clinical trials. Trial participation was less likely in settings outside of
large cancer centres.
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Improvement of services
The patient survey commissioned for this guidance found that patients
expressed a perceived need for service improvement. Respondents
wanted shorter waiting times, more accessible information about skin
cancer, better education of GPs in the recognition of skin cancer and
better communication by clinical staff. One-third of respondents had
experienced delays in diagnosis, which was attributed by patients to
failure of their GP to recognise the seriousness of the condition.
One systematic review found that, in the treatment of patients with
advanced cancer, specialist palliative care teams result in better
outcomes than conventional care, in terms of patient satisfaction and
reduced hospital stays for patients in acute settings.
One expert review reported potential benefits of protocol-based care,
including reduced length of hospital stay, reduced cost, improved
patient quality of life, satisfaction with service and greater patient or
carer participation in care.
D. Measurement
Structure
• Skin cancer teams working to network-agreed, patient-focused
protocols that incorporate sections on communication, patient
choice and monitoring patient satisfaction.
• The availability of a wide range of information in different
formats.
• At least one skin cancer CNS in every skin cancer MDT (see
chapter on ‘Organisation of skin cancer services’).
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National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence