UKAOS offers a free ‘Learning Hour’ programme to members and non-members, and we’re looking for expert, knowledgeable speakers from all four nations of the UK; Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England to get involved.
If you are a passionate acute oncology professional and would like to be considered as a speaker, please click here to get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
UKAOS Learning Hours are held regularly using the TEAMS platform with the specific aims to:
- Broaden engagement and sharing of both national & local initiatives
- Provide regular UKOAS update on key issues/messages
- Share clinical updates/innovations in AOS
- Support sponsorship opportunity
- Gain real-time feedback on what matters in AOS
Time and Frequency of Meetings -The Meetings will be held bi monthly on the second Wednesday, alternating between lunchtime (12:30-13:30) and evening (18:30-19:30).
Welcome and thank you for choosing to present at the UK Acute Oncology Society (UKAOS) Learning Hour, we very much value your knowledge and expertise. As a speaker, you play a vital role in the learning experience of our members and non-members who participate in our Learning Hour. Your experience and enthusiasm will help us deliver a high‑quality learning experience that supports continuing professional development across the acute oncology sector.
You’ll find below some ‘top tips’ to help support you in preparing for your presentation, these will assist in ensuring you present in an engaging, accessible format, supporting equity, diversity and inclusivity.
TOP TIPS
- Provide a clear agenda and learning outcomes at the start.
- Use a minimum of size 20 font on all slides.
- Select a clear, accessible font to improve readability e.g. Sans-serif fonts: Arial/Verdana
- Less is more; keep text to a minimum by writing in bullet points.
- Ensure strong colour contrast between text and background of slides for maximum readability.
- Refrain from using acronyms.
- Refrain from using text animations.
- Use ‘alt text’ (alternative text), to provide a brief description for any images; this supports accessibility for those utilising screen readers/who are visually impaired.
- Use captions for videos.
- Check your presentation using PowerPoint Accessibility Tracker (click ‘review’ then ‘check accessibility’; this will indicate accessibility issues and amendments required.
- If using case studies, ensure diversity in relation to age, ethnicity and gender; include lived experience, where possible and ensure case study subjects have provided consent (this should be documented).
- If adding images, do not place images over text, all text must be visible and readable.
- Each slide should have a clear title and no more than one key focus.
- Ensure all content is up to date, appropriately referenced; with a reference list provided at the end of the presentation.
- Build in interactivity as well as time for questions at the end; engage with your audience.
We’re delighted to have you as part of our speaker community and appreciate your preparation and delivery time. We shall be present on the day to support you and hope you enjoy the experience.
Alison Taylor, Acute Oncology Nurse Consultant and Professor Jamie Coleman talk through the development of the recently released UKAOS MUO Standards Document and the significance in practice ,along with the next steps planned by the UKAOS MUO group.
UKAOS LEARNING HOUR MUO-20260812_110212UTC-Meeting Recording.mp4
Alison
Kate Lacy is the Urgent Cancer Care Lead and AO SRG Lead in Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and a UKAOS Board Member and MSCC Group Chair.
Kate was a member of the NICE review panel that published the Spinal metastases and metastatic spinal cord compression guideline NG234 in 2023. She has worked tirelessly to develop and improve MSCC services in Merseyside and Cheshire and has shared her work widely.
Most recently she has been a member of the team developing the SDEC pathway Guidance for patients with suspected MSCC.
The learning hour she presented on the 17th of June explained this pathway.
The learning hour was extremely well attended with over a 100 people joining. If you missed out or would like to listen again you can follow the links below.
Kate has kindly shared her slide set as a PDF
Please follow this this link to watch the Youtube video of this meeting and catch up with the conversation.
If you would like to know more about the group and/or would like to be more involved in UKAOS please do get in touch via our enquiry page.
Dr Caroline Wilson details the development and implementation of an alliance wide virtual AO MDT to provide senior oncology review and support for AO oncology services that do not have full time Senior Oncology presence.
View this webinar on You Tube at this link - https://youtu.be/DFMl8WtXkwg
There is an ever increasing evidence base to support the introduction of Same Day Emeregincy Care Services for Acute Oncology Patients.
Our November learning hour will focus on the introduction of a dedicated SDEC service in Plymouth.
Recap Link Link to Presentation Slides
Please do visit our SDEC in Cancer information page , to view national guidance and case studies.
Please catch up with the AOS Awareness Week Learning Hour. Recap Link
The presenters highlighted some of the excellent work being undertaken by members of the UKAOS Nursing Group.
Many thanks to Dr Anna Olsson -Brown for very succesful learning hour with great attendance please follow this link to see the meeting recap.
Philippa Jones delivered a presentation on the 4 nations report into the delivery of 24- Hour SACT Helplines, covering the main recommendations of the report and some of the data collected:
- What do we provide currently
- Examples of innovative practice
- How we might further develop these services - the next step
Philippa is a founder board member of UKAOS and one of the reports project leads.
Kirstie Johnson is Clinical Lead for the Single Point of Access (SPOA) service in the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
The SPOA service works very closely with the Royal Berkshire 24 Hour SACT Triage Helpline and they have collaborated in the development of patient pathways to minimise the need for patients to attend ED unless their is an urgent clinical need to do so. Kirstie described their service and how she provided proof of concept.
Follow the link below to view the meeting recording:
Recap: UKAOS Learning Hour - 24-Hour SACT Helplines 30 July | Meeting | Microsoft Teams
Kate Lacy is the MSCC Lead for Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance, MSCC Clinical Lead for Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and a Member of the NICE group that developed the current NICE MSCC guideline.
Kate is a fantastic patients advocate and has worked tirelessly to develop patient centered services that provide care for individuals with suspected /confirmed MSCC.
We are also very pleased to have her as UKAOS MSCC group lead and UKAOS Board Member.
Follow the link below to catch up on her learning hour presentation.
Recap: UKAOS learning hour: transforming MSCC 21 May | Meeting | Microsoft Teams
A presentation by Alison Taylor, UKAOS MUO group lead.
Listen to Alison Taylor talk about her research and development programme for MUO and CUP services/pathways. She will talk about definitions and the role of the acute oncology team in the management of patients presenting with a new cancer diagnosis in the emergency setting. Pour yourself a cup of tea, bring your sandwiches and join us to listen and learn.
Click here to watch the teams meeting recording
Click here to find meeting feedback and questions