The lack of cancer specialists in the North East has resulted in changes to how patients will have their first treatment consultation.
According to a presentation delivered by consultant oncology Dr Ian Pedley to a multi-council scrutiny committee, oncology services are experiencing workforce problems. Over the next five years there will be a regional shortage of 43% of oncology staff.
Many staff are retiring, on sick leave, or not returning to work on a full-time basis.
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In order to make more efficient use of the resources available, those diagnosed with lung, breast, and colorectal cancer in need of non-surgical cancer treatment will now have their first face-to-face outpatient appointment, and subsequent talks to agree treatment, in specific hospitals across the region.
Digital and phone appointments will be encouraged where appropriate. These changes aim to streamline the facilities and clinics consultants will have to travel to.
However, Dr Pedley stressed that actual treatments, such as chemotherapy, will still be delivered in hospitals throughout the region. These changes are temporary but will be monitored to see if the service is improving.
People with lung and colorectal cancer will have their first consultation at North Tyneside General Hospital, The Freeman, Cumberland Infirmary, South Tyneside District Hospital, and University Hospital of North Durham. For those diagnosed with breast cancer, their first consultations will take place at Wansbeck General Hospital, the Freeman, Cumberland Infirmary, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The changes mean some patients will have to travel further than they have had to before for an initial consultation. It is estimated 114 patients a week, or 18% of regional cancer patients will have their first meeting “out of area”. But patient transport plans have been agreed with the cancer charity “Daft As A Brush” to mitigate travel problems.
The North East Ambulance Service is also supportive of the changes for patients who may need transport.
Dr Pedley told the joint committee: “This is a reaction to what I would have to say is in the 23 years I have been a consultant, a critical level of medical consultant staffing in oncology which isn't just a regional thing, it's a national problem. What we want to do is maintain equitable access to non-surgical oncology across all the big trusts.”
Recruitment is ongoing to fill six vacant full-time consultant consultants in the Newcastle Hospital Trusts.
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