Cancer patients to receive maintenance treatments in their own homes thanks to nurse-led community oncology pilot service

Cancer patients will get their treatment delivered to home, thanks to a nurse-led community oncology service at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust.

Under the two-year pilot service, funded by Macmillan, early-stage breast and gynae-oncology cancer patients no longer have to go into hospital to be reviewed, prescribed and collect their oral Systemic Anti-Cancer (SACT) treatments.

Maintenance treatments are offered once patients complete chemotherapy or radiotherapy and are prescribed on a longer-term basis to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

The service is delivered by Lead Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists, Sandeep Chahal and Kay Whitehead and Oncology Support Navigator Kayley Cooke.

“Many of these patients are back at work and keen to return to their daily lives,” said Sandeep. “Being reviewed in the community helps achieve a sense of moving forward, away from the hospital setting.

“Coming back into the hospital after chemotherapy or radiotherapy can have an emotional impact – by offering clinics in the community and home delivery we’re improving the outcomes for our patients.”

Previously, patients were prescribed their treatment by a consultant. When the prescription was ready to collect, patients would have to sometimes make an additional journey to the Outpatient Pharmacy.

However, both Sandeep and Kay have been upskilled to deliver clinical reviews and will be prescribing treatment within the nurse-led service, which will see clinics held in the City of Coventry Health Centre.

Crucially, Sandeep and Kay’s new skillset will improve wait times to start chemotherapy treatment, by releasing current consultant clinic appointments.

The community project will also provide capacity for patients to access the recently NICE approved breast cancer maintenance drug Ribociclib.

“With patients able to move through the pathway more seamlessly, we’re able to free up more time for consultants in clinic, helping us towards our cancer targets,” said Kay.

“We’re also supporting a core element of the NHS 10 Year Plan by offering care closer to our patients’ homes,” she added.

Cheryl Walton, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023, is one of the patients benefiting from the new service.

“For me, going to the pharmacy each month to collect my medication was inconvenient. I would have to make an extra visit to the hospital outside of my clinic appointment,” said Cheryl.

“Going to the City of Coventry Health Centre is much easier as I only have to take one bus and the clinic is easy to find.

“Sandeep is lovely, explains everything to me thoroughly and makes sure I feel safe.”

The nurse-led community oncology pilot service is one of several initiatives at UHCW designed to shift more care into community settings, reducing unnecessary hospital visits and improving patient experience.