BAUS oncology guidance for implementing streamlining in cancer MDT meetings: Selecting standards of care and operational considerations

Abstract

It is widely recognised that multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) are the cornerstone of cancer practice in the United Kingdom and many countries around the world. While MDTMs offer several key benefits to patients, healthcare professionals and cancer registration, data and audit services, in the United Kingdom they have over time become too large, onerous and ‘transactional’ often discussing cases that have a pre-determined management plan. In response to this growing problem, National Health Service (NHS) England and NHS Improvement produced an multidisciplinary team (MDT) streamlining document as a guide to encourage MDTM to consider a ‘Standard of Care’ (SoC) approach to conditions with a predictable agreed management plan based on national, regional cancer network or local cancer unit protocols. This would then enable more meaningful discussion of complex cases with in the MDT. This document did not gain much traction and had little impact on UK urological cancer MDTM. As a result, The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) was approached by the NHS Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Leads in 2021 to promote an SoC-based streamlining to urological cancer MDT working. Having consulted widely with colleagues, cancer networks and cancer delivery teams, the BAUS Section of Oncology sought views from its membership during a dedicated MDTM session in the Sections of Oncology Meeting, December 2021. From this extensive engagement with stakeholders, we have put together the following guidance for use as a framework to facilitate the agreement of local policies in the interests of supporting the needs of patients and MDTs. Level of evidence: level 5 (Expert opinions based on non-systematic reviews of results or mechanistic studies)