New Patient telephone follow up clinic

Introduction North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust treat patients across two sites. We currently administer chemotherapy to patients with a diagnosis of breast, bowel, lung, bladder, prostate and haematological cancer. We are constantly looking at ways to improve our service for these patient.

Aim of clinic Early identification of chemotherapy related toxicity Prompt advice and intervention Improve patient support and experience Reduce attendance/admission to hospital

Client group Patients who have received their first dose of chemotherapy Patients who have received chemotherapy previously and have commenced on a new treatment regime

Timing of call Patients on highly emetic chemotherapy regimes contacted within 48 hours Patients on regimes known to cause diarrhoea contacted on day 5 or nearest working day Patients identified by their oncologist as vulnerable contacted within the first week of their treatment All other patients contacted at 7 days

Assessment All patients were assessed using the 24 hour assessment tool Patients were given a satisfaction questionnaire when they attended for the next cycle of treatment

sample Patients contacted in July and August 62 patients eligible for call 10 patients were not contactable

Toxicities 14 patients reported no undue toxicity 2 Peripheral neuropathy 2 Diarrhoea 9 Constipation 8 Nausea and Vomiting 4 Poor appetite 3 Sore Mouth 3 Lethargy 3 Pain 2 Insomnia 1 Sepsis 1 Other (DVT)

Interventions All patients received telephone advice and support 3 received a prescription or patient group directive 2 received GP review 2 attended for hospital review 1 Admission

Conclusion Probably too early to tell Time consuming particularly when patients were not contactable However over half of the patients needed some degree of intervention Patients who replied to questionnaire expressed appreciation of service and support offered