Cancer Reform Strategy - First Annual Report - Merseyside ...

31Chapter 5:Living with and beyond cancerProgress:• Advanced Communications Skills Training programme is fully developed and has been rolledout to the Cancer Networks• 11 national cancer patient information pathways have been developed• National Cancer Survivorship Initiative launched• 16 communities testing new approaches to survivorship carePriorities for the coming year:• Patient Experience Survey• Putting patients’ experience at the heart of measures of performance• Autumn 2009 – vision and plan for National Cancer Survivorship InitiativeIntroduction5.1 By the end of this year, there will bearound 1.6 million people in England alivehaving had a diagnosis of cancer. Chapter 5 ofthe Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS) was aboutimproving the experience of these people livingwith and beyond cancer. This chapter considerswhat progress has been made towards thatobjective, and looks ahead to the further workplanned.Information, communication,decision-making and choiceFace-to-face communication5.2 The CRS set out actions to improveand extend communication training for seniorhealthcare professionals.5.3 The Advanced Communications SkillsTraining programme (ACST) is fully developedand has been rolled out to the Cancer Networks.The course has been developed from a soundevidence base and uses experiential learning topromote behavioural change in the participants.The course lasts three days and includesintensive role play sessions using actors assimulated patients/carers or colleagues. The roleplay is video recorded and participants receiveconstructive feedback and a secure environmentto help them explore alternative communicationsprocesses and styles.5.4 The course is now referred to asConnected, the national communication skillstraining programme. A dedicated website forthe programme (www.connected.nhs.uk) hasbeen launched. The site will not only promotethe course to clinicians, but will also provide aninteractive workspace for facilitators and courseparticipants to develop communication skillsfurther.