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

CHAPTER 5: lIVINg WITH AND BEyoND CANCER35Box 10: The Service Pledge for Breast Cancer: a tool for patient involvement andservice quality improvementBreakthrough Breast Cancer has collaborated with fifteen breast units in England and Wales toproduce a local Service Pledge for Breast Cancer. At each unit, Breakthrough has worked withhealthcare professionals and patients to review the existing service and identify specific areas forimprovement. This results in the publication of a local Service Pledge for Breast Cancer, listingthe standards of care patients should expect to receive and the chosen improvement goals.goals already achieved include:• a photographic guide to surgery and reconstruction at The Royal Surrey County Hospital• a drop-in clinic run by the nurse specialists at The Friarage Hospitallonger term pledges include a new breast care unit (previously housed in a portakabin) forPilgrim Hospital.The Service Pledge is designed to enable patients to speak up about what matters most tothem. Breakthrough coordinates a patient survey at each unit and sends trained patientadvocates to carry out interviews with a number of patients that have used the unit.Each unit also recruits patient representatives to work closely with healthcare professionals onthe drafting of the local Service Pledge.A staff member, usually a breast care nurse, leads the Service Pledge team. Breakthroughsupports each Pledge site and enables and encourages the Pledge leads across the country tolearn from each other.An independent evaluation in 2008 confirmed the value of the Service Pledge approach toimproving services:• patients and healthcare professionals regard it as a distinctive and sound approach tobringing about improvements in breast services through patient involvement• patients find their local Service Pledge a useful information tool, clarifying what they shouldexpect from their unit• the Service Pledge facilitates team working and unites multi-disciplinary teams aroundcommon, patient-centred goals.Breakthrough will work with twelve more hospitals in 2008/09.