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The importance of integrated care when dealing with oncological emergencies - UKAOS Board Members article in Clinics in Integrated Care

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Abstract:

Cancer incidence in the UK continues to rise particularly in older and multi-morbid populations. In the UK 36% of new cancer diagnoses are made in those over 75 years of age. Despite advancements in treatments, many patients are living longer with advanced incurable cancer, often requiring urgent and emergency care. The disconnect between centralized specialist oncology services and local care needs exacerbates this issue, leading to frequent emer gency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions. Cancer patients are less well represented in Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) and have a short hospital stay, hinting at a missed opportunity admission avoidance and early supported discharge. Many cancer patients may benefit from an urgent community response as an alternative to ED attendance but this requires collab orative working across traditional health care boundaries and involving the wider multi professional health care team in primary, community, secondary and specialist services.

Key points:

  • Cancer patients are high users of urgent and emergency care services
  • Presentations may represent symptoms of a new suspected cancer (type I), a complication of cancer treatment (type II) or a complication of a known cancer (type III)
  • The majority of cancer presentations requiring an urgent or emergency response are common scenarios to health care professionals and include generally unwell, pain and suspected infection
  • Health care professionals need to be aware of the possibility of an uncommon association with recent cancer treatment and should have ready access to local and regional specialist cancer single point of access including cancer treatment and palliative care helplines
  • There are a number of readily available published tools and resources to guide cancer patient assessment and initial management
  • Cancer patients will benefit from a more integrated offer of community urgent response

Title: The importance of integrated care when dealing with oncological emergencies
Reference: INTCAR_100256

 

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