The team are working closely with the Lung Cancer Nurse Specialists and are supported by two consultants in palliative medicine (Andrew Wilcock and Vincent Crosby). The aims of the team are to:
- Increase understanding of the supportive and palliative care needs of people with lung cancer and mesothelioma, with particular emphasis on common distressing symptoms, maximising function and independence
- Offer best available evidence-based care
- Continually evaluate the efficacy of the care in order to improve the care offered
- Develop a model of care that could be rolled out to other centres and people with other types of cancer
Support from a range of Cancer Centre and Network groups, together with Nottingham Cancer Patient Forum helped to secure the £500,000 funding over three years. The team, based at Hayward House began piloting the service in July, and now assess all people with a new diagnosis of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Dr Wilcock said ‘despite recent improvements, it remains that most people with lung cancer and mesothelioma can not be cured of their disease. Greater understanding of their needs and the provision of better support from the time of diagnosis has the potential to optimize their independence and quality of life and to help them to remain in their preferred place of care. Even for those undergoing curative treatment, better support may improve their experience. The team will only enhance the reputation of NUH as a centre of excellence for the treatment of lung cancer.