Cancer services in the NHS

Cancer services include all the health and social care services needed to diagnose, treat and care for people with cancer and their families. These services are provided in a range of different places, including GP surgeries, district hospitals, in larger specialist hospitals and in patients' own homes.

Cancer Networks

Lincolnshire is part of the East Midlands Cancer Network. Many people with cancer go to different hospitals for different parts of their treatment. Specialist cancer teams and local cancer diagnostic and treatment teams are in place across the Cancer Network. Staff in those teams work closely with each other, and with other health professionals looking after cancer patients, to form "Cancer Networks".

"Fast-track" referral of patients who may have cancer

If a GP or Dental Practitioner (DP) suspects that a patient may have cancer, there is a "Fast-Track" route through which they are able to refer direct to the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. If the GP/DP suspects the patient may have cancer, they must send a letter by fax to the hospital within 24 hours of their decision to refer, then the hospital is required to see the patient within 2 weeks. This is a process that is now well established. The Trust aims to see patients, wherever possible, local to where they live. However, there are occasions when, in order to see a patient within 2 weeks, an appointment is offered at a different hospital site.

Lincolnshire

In the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust there is a range of specialist teams and local diagnostic and treatment teams. These teams comprise doctors from differing specialties – Surgery, Medicine, Oncology (cancer treatment), Radiology (x-ray), Pathology (examination of specimens) and Nurse Specialists, Administration Support and other professionals such as Dieticians in some teams.

Lincolnshire has an Oncology Centre which provides a comprehensive range of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy treatments on the Lincoln County Hospital and Boston Pilgrim Hospital sites (chemotherapy only) with a limited chemotherapy service at Grantham and District Hospital. Inpatient and outpatient cancer care is provided across the Trust for some cancers and only in certain areas for the more specialised cancers.

All our patients diagnosed with cancer are discussed by these cancer teams to agree the most beneficial course of treatment and to plan future care. If patients need any information, guidance or support this will either be provided by someone from the team or they will put the patient in touch with someone who can help; for example, The Macmillan Information and Support centres or local support groups. Good communication with doctors and nurses can help reduce fears about treatment.