CANCER IN SCOTLAND: ACTION FOR CHANGE: Third Monitoring Reports
1 October 2002 - 31 March 2003
North of Scotland Cancer Network (NoSCAN)also pdf format (136k)
South East Scotland Cancer Network (SCAN) also pdf format (108k)
West of Scotland Cancer Network (WoSCAN) also pdf format (120k)
Published August 2003
This document is also available in pdf format (96k)
This is the third monitoring report detailing regional cancer networks' progress with implementing investments to support Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change. This report covers the period from October 2002 to March 2003 including progress on investments from 2001-02 (updating the first monitoring report) and progress with 2002-03 investment/implementation plans (updating the second monitoring report). Subsequent monitoring reports will continue to monitor the outcomes of investments from the previous monitoring period in order to demonstrate the ongoing benefits to patients.
Many of the investments are clearly demonstrating improvements and benefits to patient care. Specific details of each of the investments and the improvements they have made across Scotland can be found in each of the regional cancer networks' reports. Some highlights are:
Rapid Access to Diagnosis and Treatment
In Highland new video endoscopy equipment has been used in over 2600 procedures resulting in improved safety and quality of image as well as enabling more patients to be seen locally.
Additional CT sessions in Lothian has enabled waiting times to be reduced from 30 to 19 days at the Western General Hospital and from 27 to 12 days at the Royal Infirmary.
Improvements to colorectal services in Borders including a diagnostic coordinator, clinical nurse specialist and additional theatre time has resulted in urgent barium enema waiting times being reduced from 3-4 weeks to 9 days and non urgent from 6 weeks to 3 weeks.
Additional radiography staff in Highland has reduced the waiting times for treatment from 5 weeks to 2 weeks as well as improving the quality of care for patients.
Improving Cancer Treatment and Care
Additional equipment and clinical nurse specialists will enable more patents to receive chemotherapy locally in Fife, approximately 400-500 per annum. To date the breast oncology service has doubled to 13 patients per week.
With the appointment of additional staff the provision of CHART (Continuous Hyperfractionated Accelerated Radiotherapy Treatment) has been extended to the whole of the South East of Scotland with approximately 70 patients treated in the first year.
An additional haematologist and nursing support in Argyll and Clyde means that a no wait policy for investigation and treatment of haematological cancers has been achieved. Over 600 additional patients have been seen in the first year of the new day treatment centre, which equates to a 40% increase in activity.
Palliative Care
An additional consultant in palliative medicine in Fife has resulted in over 75% of patients being seen within 2 days and at present urgent referrals on the same day. This service is complimented by a bereavement counsellor who, as well as being able to see urgent referrals the same or next day, has introduced bereavement groups.
Since August 2002 over 60 patients and their families have benefited from a new primary care crisis response team in Ayrshire and Arran. Most patients who have received this service have avoided hospital admission during their terminal phase.
To date 4 nurses in Highland have undertaken training to become palliative care key workers. This enhances palliative care skills within the primary care team and enables a wider range of patients to have access to palliative care.
Investing in Staff and Technology
In Dumfries and Galloway 39 district nurses have undergone training to improve prevention and early detection of cancer through a more proactive approach.
Investment in an additional ultrasound machine in Argyll and Clyde has enabled a additional 2477 ultrasounds to be undertaken since October 2002 and reduced waiting times from 11 weeks to 5.
Improvements to CT Scanning facilities in Grampian has ensured there is no delay in reporting results and enabled waiting times to be maintained at 3-4 weeks whilst the numbers of CT scans being undertaken has increased by 9%.
Making it Happen
Investment in prospective clinical audit to enable the quality assurance of cancer services and the reporting of waiting times in South East Scotland means that data is now available for breast, lung colorectal and ovarian cancer and this is being rolled out to other cancers including head and neck, haematology, skin, upper GI, urological cancers.
Cancer Coordinators have now been appointed in Tayside, Grampian and Highland to support the development of networks across the North of Scotland.