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Feature Holistic careFurther informationDr Andrew Wilcock DM FRCPMacmillan Reader inPalliative Medicine andMedical OncologyHayward House MacmillanSpecialist Palliative CareCancer UnitNottingham UniversityHospitals NHS Trust0115 9627 778Reference1Nottingham MacmillanLung Cancer CAREservice. Final report. 2011’I have the highestpraise for thisteam, being helpful,courteous andreadily availableat all times’The CARE team: Andrew Wilcock;Asmah Hussain, Data Manager;Helena Alvey, Physiotherapist;Cheryl Percival, Dietitian; RachelBentley, Occupational TherapistSeamless supportDr Andrew Wilcock shares the achievements of theaward-winning Macmillan Lung Cancer CARE teamOver the past two years, the CAREteam has helped over 540 peoplewith thoracic cancer through itsmultidisciplinary approach. Based atNottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust,the team works with existing cancer andspecialist palliative care services to provideholistic support to people with lung cancerand mesothelioma. There is a particularfocus on the cachexia-anorexia syndrome.The team was named team of the year at the2011 Excellence in Oncology Awards.Our serviceAll people recently diagnosed with thoraciccancer are invited to complete the SheffieldProfile for Assessment and Referral toCare (SPARC) questionnaire to identifytheir holistic supportive and palliative careneeds. The results are then discussed at amultidisciplinary meeting, which includesthe lung cancer nurse specialists and aconsultant in palliative medicine. This closeintegration is one of the most successfulaspects of the service as it facilitates goodcommunication and seamless support forpatients and carers. Based on the needsuncovered, the appropriate team membersvisit the patient at home or at their nexthospital appointment to carry out a moredetailed assessment and provide therapy.All patients are assessed by the dietitian.AchievementsThe team has provided around 3,200 faceto-faceappointments and 2,800 phonereviews. 80% of new, and 12% of follow-upassessments, take place in the patient’s home.The team has also:• undertaken user satisfaction surveys,which show the team is held in veryhigh regard• evaluated contributions of individualteam members, for example, dietetic data(poster presentation and submitted forpublication), and occupational therapydata (forming the basis of an MSc)• increased the number of people withthoracic cancer able to die at home (33to 49%), reduced the number dying inhospital (46 to 36%) and the number ofhospital days utilised (6,778 to 5,696) [1]• disseminated data through conferences,journals and linked with national initiatives• provided teaching and training to a widerange of disciplines.Where do we go next?Despite these achievements, we were unableto secure ongoing funding for the servicedue to the economic climate. Subsequently,the team was reconfigured last year as aspecialist palliative care rehabilitation service,applying the same principles of assessmentand support to a wider group of patients.We recently won a tender to provide such aservice to patients within the community. Thiswill ensure patients and their families continueto benefit from this type of care.14 Mac Voice Autumn 2012