Improving outcomes for people with skin tumours including melanoma

Improving Outcomes for
People with Skin Tumours
including Melanoma
Organisation of skin
cancer services
Coordination across teams
It is important that the transfer of care of patients between teams is as
flexible, comprehensive and timely as possible to avoid undue delays
and ensure continuity of care. Close coordination is required between
clinicians working in the community, LSMDTs, SSMDTs, palliative care
teams and patients, carers and their families. There should be a
designated individual in each team who has responsibility for
communication and information provision, and adequate support must
also be provided to ensure that all discussions about patient
management are recorded.
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Clearly defined arrangements should be made to ensure that
appropriate information (including the name of the doctor and CNS
who are directly responsible for each patient) is communicated
properly to each patient and others (such as GPs) who may require,
or may benefit from, information about decisions concerning particular
patients. GPs should be given sufficient information about each
patient’s cancer and his or her management to enable them to advise
and support patients and their carers.
There should be clear and documented arrangements for cross-cover
in all teams and all members should meet the MDT attendance
criterion. This commitment should be formally acknowledged in the
consultant contract as programmed activity (PA).
It is recognised that a period of transition will be required before the
new pattern of service provision is established.
Patient information
Trusts should provide information to patients, as outlined in the
chapter on ‘Patient-centred care’. If patient support groups or user
involvement groups exist, then information on these should also be
provided for patients. Information should contain details of the
patient’s specific condition and treatment, relevant MDTs, contact
names and phone numbers, clinical appointments and a diary in
which patients can record symptoms and other potentially useful
information about their condition if appropriate. This will be of value
both for the patient’s own use and to other healthcare professionals
required to care for the patient out of normal working hours.
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National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence