Acute Oncology in England

Key message – Every hospital in England that has an acute admission pathway should have an Acute Oncology Service – do you know how to contact them?

Acute Oncology Services were developed in response to two reports, A National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (2008) and a report by the National Chemotherapy Advisory Group (NCAG, 2009),  along with the Acute Oncology Quality Indicators (Peer Review)  and most recently The Clinical Advice to Cancer Alliances for the Commissioning of Acute Oncology Services. Recommendations from these reports have been embodied into the concept of Acute Oncology Services, aimed at ensuring a systematic approach is taken to dealing with cancer related emergencies.

Though there are clearly defined measures of an acute oncology service describing the key aspects that must be incorporated, the needs and resources available in the provider organisations have required that services develop individually. There are excellent varied and innovative services in place. Each have a different composition and patient pathways, but all have greatly improved the care and experience of patients who have an urgent problem related to their disease or treatment. 

Acute Oncology spans oncology services and its principles apply to both solid tumour and haematological oncology patient groups

There are 21 Cancer Alliances in England, some have established Acute Oncology Expert Reference Groups (ERG) to lead a regionally coordinated approach to the continuation and development of acute oncology services.

If you have an alliance ERG and would like us to include or update your  details, please let us know via the contact page

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