Ear, Nose and Throat, Oral and Maxillofacial and Head and Neck Cancer Services Review
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The Review initially started as a review of Head and Neck Cancer Services in November 2009, but feedback from clinical stakeholders indicated the scope of the review needed to be expanded to cover all ENT and OMF services, benign and malignant. The clinical staff, skills and equipment required to treat benign conditions are the same, in many cases, as those required to treat malignant conditions. Therefore, the clinical service model developed as part of the review process is for all Head and Neck Cancer, benign and malignant ENT and benign and malignant OMF inpatient services. The clinical service model will bring together the expertise of specialists working in ENT, OMF and Head and Neck Cancer services in a service hub where all surgical procedures will take place. Satellite and spoke sites will enable patients to have diagnostic and follow-up appointments and routine procedures closer to home and this is described in more detail below. An independently-chaired Advisory Panel, which first came together in May 2010, undertook a detailed assessment of the location options that could deliver the clinical service model. In May 2010, the Advisory Panel recommended that the Bristol Royal Infirmary site provide the hub services for a number of reasons, including: clinicians’ aspirations for a Head and Neck Service and Institute which maximises integrated working and adjacencies; likely developments in cancer treatment in the medium term and it being the location that offered the best opportunity for coordinated service provision for patients. It was agreed that UH Bristol be put through a process of due diligence to test their ability to deliver the clinical service model from the Bristol Royal Infirmary site. On the 4th of November 2010 the Advisory Panel came together again to review evidence submitted by UH Bristol and were assured that they would be able to deliver the model. The Review’s Project Board met on the 5th of November 2010 and accepted the Advisory Panel’s recommendation. Throughout November and December 2010 and January 2011 we discussed the recommendations with the PECs, Boards and scrutiny committees of Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset and Wiltshire. We are pleased to report that the recommendations were approved across the patch. This signals the start of a new project for implementation which is being led by providers. A Project Initiation Document has been written and approved by the Project Board and new website pages are under construction and will be available via both UH Bristol's and NBT's websites, this will include information for staff impacted by the changes. The implementation will be focussed on ensuring a smooth transition of services from NBT to UH Bristol. The earliest planned start date for the new services is May 2012 which allows plenty of time to ensure staff are properly consulted about changes to their jobs and joint processes, procedures and patient information are improved and updated. There will continue to be strong patient input in the implementation project to ensure patient experience and outcomes are improved through the centralisation of services. We are pleased to have reached this stage of the Review, given that the sort of integration described in the clinical service model has been discussed locally for a number of decades. This is a real credit to the way clinicians, patients and managers have been able to work together to agree the clinical model and have built a strong foundation on which delivery can be assured. Lessons from the Review Phase
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How to contact usIf you would like more information, or to get involved with the Head and Neck Cancer Services Review, please contact Emma Phillips via email, emma.phillips@bristolpct.nhs.uk, or telephone 0117 984 1629. |
