Specialist nurse-led care has reduced the need for patients to be referred to hospital. Nicola Robottom discusses one trust’s success story
Since 2007, anti-cancer treatments, including intravenous chemotherapy, have been delivered in the community in Walsall by a team of specialist oncology nurses. The commissioned service has shown year on year reductions in hospital-based care, increased provision of care closer to home, and improved patient satisfaction. This article outlines the development of the service, quantifies some of its benefits, discusses the challenges and how they were overcome, and provides useful tips for others establishing a community-based, nurse-led oncology service.
Cancer Nursing Practice. 12, 2, 14-20. doi: 10.7748/cnp2013.03.12.2.14.e912
Correspondencenicola.robottom@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interestPfizer Ltd funded Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust for editorial support with this article, which was provided by Melanie Martin. There has been no influence by the company to publish this article and the article expresses the author’s views alone
Received: 04 September 2012
Accepted: 21 December 2012
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