SHARING THE CARE: A project to enable prostate cancer care to be delivered in the community

Abstract

Prostate cancer has become the 2nd most common cancer in men worldwide. An ageing population and treatment improvements are increasing the number of men living with and beyond cancer. In 2013, there was both scant evidence to guide as to when, where or how men with prostate cancer should be followed up and neither, it appears, pointing to agreed pathways. Generally, follow up regimes are based on tradition and expert medical opinion rather than research or patient need. For men to have their follow up with their GP, several factors need to be in place such as a single system, an improved exchange of experiences, as well as information and knowledge sharing. A recent presentation of a randomized control trial has shown that there are no differences between secondary and primary care follow up. Understanding that the current model of follow up was not working and was unsustainable, a review of urological services was undertaken in 2011 in a large National Health Service (NHS) district general hospital in the north of England. The review evaluated current services, noting that some follow up pathways did not necessarily need to be undertaken within a secondary are setting. The process of relocating patients for primary care review, involved creating a shared care process for prostate cancer. A workstream consisting of consultant urologists, nurse specialists, GPs, service managers and clinical commissioners was convened. Protocols containing specific responsibilities for secondary and primary care were devised. The review and workstream, included a shared vision for improving and sustaining services. Whilst safely moving follow up from secondary to primary care, benefits were realized such as care closer to the home. In conclusion a radical approach to follow up was needed and undertaken. Shared care has yielded success for the patient, primary and secondary care.