Evaluation of ‘Care Closer to Home’ project now available
In 2018, a pilot service ‘Care Closer to Home’ was introduced to enable patients from Swindon and Wiltshire to receive their rehabilitation and follow up care at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, after receiving treatment at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The concept for the pilot came from extensive scoping work undertaken by Macmillan Cancer Support, including identifying the initial patient need. Funding for the service was provided by Macmillan Cancer Support, Thames Valley Cancer Alliance and the two providers.
A dedicated team of Ear, Nose and Throat and Maxillo-Facial consultants, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Allied Health Professionals, Clinical Psychologist, and a Patient Pathway Co-ordinator were recruited to deliver the GWH service.
The pilot aimed to achieve the following benefits:
- Improved patient experience through reduction in frequent long journeys
- Improved quality of service for patients from Swindon and Wiltshire
- Improved access for patients and reduction of delays in the diagnosis of recurrence and treatment
- Improved capacity for Clinical Nurse Specialist, Restorative Dentistry and Allied Health Professional input
- Development of local expertise in Swindon which can be built on in the future
- Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the whole networked service, with a pathway that has the resilience to cope with increasing referrals
- Completion of more Holistic Needs Assessments to enable patients to be referred for appropriate support
- Increased patient education and focus on prevention of recurrence to enable patients to feel more in control of their own health and wellbeing
- Development of a blueprint for localised follow up which can be replicated across the Thames Valley
To provide an independent assessment of the pilot and support decision making on the future of the pilot, Thames Valley Cancer Alliance commissioned NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit to carry out an evaluation of the service.
