Oncology Temporary Measures Internal Communication

Dear MDT colleagues I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the imminent changes which will affect the Lung, Colorectal and Breast Oncology services for South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust. Please be aware that this is an interim measure and is expected to cover a 12 month period with longer-term reviews planned. 

Lung Oncology Service  

As of w/c 1st August all lung Oncology clinics which are currently undertaken in South Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead will be located at South Tyneside main outpatients so that we can provide a lung oncology hub (bringing a number of lung oncology consultants together in one location) for both South Tyneside and Sunderland patients and Gateshead patients. The oncology clinic will be held every Thursday. 

*Please note the Lung MDT will not be effected.

If you are a CNS or any other health care profession working to support our lung cancer patients for STSFT you will continue to provide your key worker role with very little change other than location of outpatient clinics. The hub will be supported by the Gateshead lung CNS team who will be on site on the day of clinics and will continue with their key worker role to support all Gateshead patients. The lung oncology chemotherapy nurse will continue to support South Tyneside and Sunderland oncology clinics. 

Patients who require SACT will continue to have this treatment provided at their local chemotherapy day units. 

If a patient attends clinic and there are any clinical concerns requiring ED attendance they will be referred to South Tyneside Emergency Department and if appropriate they will be transferred to SRH or QEH if appropriate. The acute oncology teams will continue to be involved in any ED attendance or admission. 

Breast Oncology Service  

From late August this service will be located at QEH Gateshead to provide a Breast Oncology Hub for South Tyneside, Sunderland, Gateshead and Durham oncology patients. Patient appointments will be held in the main outpatients within Gateshead hospital. The Oncology Nurse Consultants will attend QE to continue to support Breast oncology patients for Sunderland and South Tyneside. This clinic will be held every Thursday.

*Please note the Breast MDT will not be effected.

If you are a health care profession working to support our breast cancer patients then you should continue to provide this on STSFT site. The hub will be supported by the Gateshead breast care CNS team who will be on site on the day of clinics and will continue with their key worker role to support our patients from a pre and post-surgical and stratified follow-up role. 

Patients who require SACT will continue to have this treatment provided at their local chemotherapy day units.

If a patient attends clinic and there are any clinical concerns requiring ED attendance they will be referred to Queen Elizabeth Emergency Department and if appropriate they will be transferred to SRH or STH. The acute oncology teams will continue to be involved in any ED attendance or admission. 

Colorectal Oncology Service

This service will be located on Sunderland site in main outpatients for South Tyneside and Sunderland patients. The clinic will be held every Monday. 

*Please note the Colorectal MDT will not be effected.

If you are a CNS or any other health care profession working to support our colorectal cancer patients for STSFT you will continue to provide your key worker role with very little change other than location of outpatient clinics.

Patient Transport 

Patients travelling to their outpatient appointments who cannot provide their own transport should be supported with patient transport as you would normally do via NEAS or requested by the patient via the GP or directly through patient transport NEAS. We can provide reimbursement of travel costs for some patients if they are travelling further than they would have previously and will support this for the first 6 weeks whilst we have a transition period. 

Please contact sarah.atkinson41@nhs.net or lynsey.robson@nhs.net for any queries.