Oncology

Oncology is the branch of medicine concerned with diagnosing and treating cancer. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and treatments vary depending on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread), as well age, health status, and additional personal characteristics.

There is no single treatment for cancer, and patients often receive a combination of therapies and palliative care. Treatments usually fall into one of the following categories: surgery, radiotherapy (radiation treatment), chemotherapy (treatment with strong anti-cancer drugs), immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or gene therapy.

If detected early enough, and treated appropriately, many cancer patients can go on to live relatively normal lives. Others may need more careful and complex care over time.

Team

Mr N Trudgill – Lead Cancer Clinician

Mr D Peake – Oncology Advisor (University Hospital Birmingham)

Ms J Donovan – Cancer Services Manager

Mr I Charles – Waiting Times Manager

Mrs S Frost – Cancer General Manager

Ms E Hunstone – Cancer Support Manager

Services

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust is the main provider of cancer services for half a million people at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation in Sandwell, western and central Birmingham, and the surrounding areas.

We aim to provide “excellence in cancer care for people living in Sandwell and western and central Birmingham”

We ensure all patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of cancer are seen quickly, and receive prompt appointments for any tests and treatment. We treat all patients as individuals, and involve them in deciding their treatment and where it is provided. We make sure that patients are provided with the information they need to understand their condition, and what the likely outcomes will be.

Our Specialist Cancer Multi-disciplinary Teams provide the highest possible cancer care at both Sandwell andCityHospitals, and the Birmingham Treatment Centre, and are partners with the pan-Birmingham Cancer Care community. We guide patients and their relatives to a wide range of well being and practical support services to help them during and after their treatment. We work with partners in other sectors to provide high quality end of life care.

Cancer Services and the Right Care Right Here Programme
The Right Care Right Here Programme is leading a major redevelopment of health and social care services in Sandwell and the Heart of Birmingham. This will affect the way in which all of the Trust’s current services are provided. The detail of how cancer services will be provided through the Right Care Right Here models of care is being developed as part of our ongoing planning with our community partners.

Specialist Multi-Disciplinary Cancer Teams (MDT)
The Trust has 11 Specialist Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Teams. Each is made up of doctors, nurses and other experts who have received specialist training and experience in a particular cancer i.e. breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer.  The teams work together on a daily basis to ensure that our cancer patients receive the best possible care and treatment. The teams also meet formally on a regular basis to review and agree individual patient treatment plans.

Patients and their relatives get to know members of these teams and see them when they visit the hospital for appointments. Each patient has a named specialist member of the team (Keyworker), who acts as a single point of contact, and knows everything about the patient’s case. They support them and their relatives/carers in managing and understanding their cancer care. The Keyworker is often the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).

Oncology Units
The trusts oncology services are delivered across both the City and Sandwell sites, where comprehensive site specific oncology / haemato-oncology services are provided by a dedicated team supporting our Consultant Clinical Oncologists, Consultant Medical Oncologists and resident Consultant Haematologists. Specialist chemotherapy nurses deliver a broad range of outpatient intravenous chemotherapy /targeted therapies on the Walkden Unit at Sandwell and on the Chemotherapy Suite, Birmingham Treatment Centre at City, as well as provide support to the increasing numbers of patients receiving oral anti-cancer agents at home.

Inpatient haematology services are delivered with a 14 bed inpatient Haematology ward at Sandwell. Radiotherapy services are delivered at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital,Birmingham.  Specialist palliative care services are provided at consultant level by 2 palliative care consultants who also provide services in the community.

Acute Oncology Service (AOS)
The Acute Oncology Service at SWBH delivers a systematic approach to dealing with all patients potentially suffering from the acute complications of cancer treatments (i.e. chemotherapy / radiotherapy).

The AOS aims to deliver a comprehensive acute oncology service with the capability to provide rapid access to oncological expertise and skills and high quality streamlined pathways for patients with suspected cancer and those suffering from the complications of cancer or its treatment. The Team operates a specialist nurse lead service supported by two acute oncology lead clinicians working within the context of the acute oncology team.

Patient initiated contact:
Patients are provided with a contact card during the pre chemotherapy talk which advises them of the process to follow in or out of hours should they have a problem with chemotherapy.

Trust Cancer Services Team
The Trusts cancer Services team are dedicated to the provision of high quality support services to the Trust MDT’s and in developing trust cancer strategy.  We are committed to:

Monitoring development and action against the trusts cancer strategy
Delivering on the national cancer Waiting Times
Delivery of National cancer measures and participation in the National Cancer Peer Review programme
Provision of support in national Cancer data set collection and development
Effective service improvement to better streamline the patient pathway and improve patient experience and efficiency
Patient engagement, including patient evaluation of Trust delivered cancer services
The provision of patient information and support services
Provision of effective and timely MDT meeting  and coordination services
Cancer Information and Support Services at the Courtyard Centre

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust’s Cancer Information and Support Service (CISS) has been open since January 2001, and operates from The Courtyard Centre (CYC) in the main reception area of Sandwell General Hospital. The service exists to provide support and information to anyone affected by cancer within the Sandwell and Heart of Birmingham Communities, including patients, their families and carers, and health professionals.

The CISS is a volunteer-led service offering free information and support services by either drop-in or telephone between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm, Monday to Friday. This is offered within a friendly and informal atmosphere. The Centre is based in the Main Reception of Sandwell Hospital,West Bromwichand supported by Clinical Nurse Specialists and provides the following services:

Information resource
Information prescriptions
Lending library
Signposting
Cancer Patient Support Services (Headways, Look Good…Feel Better, Wig Fitting)
 
HeadWays:
HeadWays Hair Loss Advisory and Support Service is a confidential, free service run by specially trained volunteers for those suffering hair loss as a result of treatment for any type of cancer (not just breast cancer). Volunteers deliver appointments in pairs and will offer practical information and support around hair loss due to cancer treatment, on an individual appointment basis. HeadStrong appointments take place on Wednesday afternoons at the Courtyard Centre, Main Reception,Sandwell Hospitaland last up to an hour.

Look Good…Feel Better:
Look Good…Feel Better workshops are held monthly at City Hospital, Birmingham. The service offers practical help to women undergoing treatments for cancer, which can dramatically change their appearance and body image, e.g. loss of hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. During the free two-hour workshops, trained beauticians guide patients through a 12-step skincare and make-up regime. Everyone is given a complementary gift bag of products to take home at the end of the session.

Wig Fitting Services:
We work in partnership with local businesses who offer advice and support to patients who may be experiencing hair loss as a result of treatment for any type of cancer, in the fitting of wigs and hairpieces.  In some cases, patients may be entitled to their first wig free of charge. Referrals to these services are via the Hospital Oncology Teams.

City Benefits Advice and Support – Macmillan CAB Benefits Team
This service provides welfare benefits advice to people resident in the city ofBirminghamwho are affected by cancer, including patients, relatives and carers. Advisers are currently available atCityHospital, Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands and Good Hope hospitals from 10am to 4pm on different days each week over a two-week rota for appointments or drop-in advice (subject to availability). Referrals are via Keyworker / Clinical Nurse Specialist or via Macmillan CAB Benefits Team

Bridges
Bridges support is available to people registered with a GP practice within the Sandwell. Managed by Murray Hall Community Trust, a registered charity Bridges offer signposting and support services to both patient and their carers from a diagnosis of a cancer illness throughout their treatment. The service also offers support to palliative patients within Sandwell and some parts ofBirmingham.

Citywide Lymphoedema Service – Provider of Lymphoedema Services
The Citywide lymphoedema Service is available to all adults with a Birmingham GP, with a chronic oedema (abnormal swelling encountered by some cancer patients) or who are at risk of developing a chronic oedema requiring an assessment, diagnosis and management plan. Services are provided:

Sandwell Cancer Care Service at the Sandwell Wellbeing Hub
The service offers a range of psychological, health and wellbeing and self help services to anyone with cancer who has a Sandwell GP. The aim is to provide everyone referred to the service with care that is best suited to their particular needs.  The team believe in dealing with the whole person, whatever their needs and are committed to helping everyone, including those who have had psychological problems in the past.

The team currently accept referrals from Clinical Nurse Specialists caring and supporting patients at both Sandwell and City Hospitals. Those patients with a BirminghamGP/or out of area GP are then referred to their own local psychology and wellbeing services.

Cancer registration
Whenever someone is diagnosed with cancer, the doctor or hospital records the relevant details. This applies to people of all ages, including children.

Hospitals and doctors are allowed by law to pass this information on to the local cancer registry, but we need to make sure that patients know this is happening.
 
Why is registration necessary?

Registration is the only way that we can see how many people are getting cancer and what types of cancer they have. Registration has been running for over 50 years in the UK.
 
By working with cancer researchers we have been able to identify the causes of some cancers. We have also been able to look at how cancer patients are treated across the UK and how successful treatments have been for different types of cancer. Registration also helps us to make sure cancer-screening programmes are working.

Registration shows whether the number of people getting cancer is going up or down so the health service can make sure the right services and staff are available in the right place.

The information registered is vital for research into cancer. Cancer registration is supported by all the main UK cancer charities.

What do you need to know about me?

We need to know some details about you (such as your name, address, age and sex). We need these details to make sure we are recording the right information about the right person. We also need to know about the type of cancer or condition you have, the treatment you are receiving or have already received and your progress. We need this information to help us to identify possible causes of cancer and to find out about the best treatments.

Do I need to do anything?

You do not need to do anything – there are no forms to fill in and nothing to sign. Your hospital or doctor will pass the relevant information to your local cancer registry during your care.
 
What will you do with this information?

The registry is very careful with private information and follows strict rules about how it is kept and who can use it. Information is stored on computers with secure passwords, and in paper files in locked storage cabinets.  It is all kept strictly confidential and is only available to appropriate staff.

Will anyone contact me?

No one from the cancer registry will contact you.
 
They sometimes release information to approved cancer researchers under strict conditions.  For most cancer research, patients do not need to be contacted, but in some cases they do. If a researcher needs to contact you, they will only ever do this with the approval of your own doctor.

Do I have a choice?

Yes, you can object and this will not affect the care you receive. However, in order to work properly, the registration system needs to  know about everyone with cancer. 
 
Your details help care teams to learn how best to treat cancer, make sure they provide the best care, and help to find out the causes of cancer.

If you are concerned about your details being registered or any other issues raised here, please discuss this with your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
If you have any questions, you can get more information by:

● asking your doctor;
● contacting Cancer BACUP on 0808 800 1234; or 
● visiting the cancer registration website at www.ukacr.org. The website has a useful section on common questions about the cancer registration system

If you are a child with cancer or the parent of a child with cancer, you can get further information by visiting the UK Children’s Cancer Study Group’s website at www.ukccsg.org

Patient Stories

Please feel free to share your experiences of this service. Please e-mail your views to swbh.comms@nhs.net

Contacts

Contact

All members of the Cancer Services Management team and/or Infrastructure can be contacted on 0121 507 2776

Mr N Trudgill – Lead Cancer Clinician
Dr D Ford  – Oncology Advisor (UniversityHospitalBirmingham)
Ms J Donovan – Cancer Services Manager
Mr I Charles – Waiting Times Manager
Ms E Hunstone – Cancer Support Manager
Ms J Rhal – Service Imporvement Waiting Times Facilitator

Specialist Multi-disciplinary teams:

 Oncology

Acute oncology

The Courtyard Centre
Cancer Information and Support Service

Sandwell General Hospital
Lyndon
West Bromwich
B71 4HJ

Tel:         0121 507 3792
Fax:        0121 507 2851

Email:   Emma Hunstone, Cancer Support Manager: emma.hunstone@nhs.net

Headways
Bookings via Courtyard Centre 0121 507 3792

Look good… feel better
Bookings via Courtyard Centre 0121 507 3792

City Benefits Advice
Referrals are via Keyworker / Clinical Nurse Specialist or via Macmillan CAB Benefits Team.
Telephone Help Line 0121 683 5601

Bridges
Tel: 0121 612 2939

Citywide Lymphoedema Service

LymphCare UK – Provider of Lymphoedema Services for Sandwell patients
A specialist nurse-led service for patients offering advice and treatment for long-term control of lymphoedema (abnormal swelling encountered by some cancer patients).

WestPlazaClinic
WestPlaza
9th Floor
144 High Street
West Bromwich
B70 6JJ

Tel: 0121 5532255
Email:  lymph@dudley.nhs.uk

Sandwell Wellbeing Hub
c/o Spires Health Centre
Victoria Street
Wednesbury
WS10 7EH

Tel: 0303 033 9903
Email: sandwellbeing.co.uk

Cancer Research Services
Cancer Research Team
Clinical Investigation Unit
City Hospital
Dudley Road
Birmingham
B18 7QH

Tel: 0121 507 5129