CATSCAN
Improving Cancer Care for Children and Young People in Scotland
Introduction
In November 2007 the Managed Clinical Network (MCN) for children and young people's cancer was established to ensure that standards of treatment and care in cancer services in Scotland were equal or better to that provided in comparable European countries.
Aim
The remit of CATSCAN (Children and Teenagers Scottish Cancer Network) is to co-ordinate a new model of care in Scotland based on the NICE guidance on Children and Young People with Cancer[1] and the consultation work carried out for the National Delivery Plan for Children and Young People's Specialist Services in Scotland[2] (2005-2008).
The Network aims to:
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Improve standards in children and young people's cancer services by promoting evidence based practice
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Provide a forum where patients and families along with all other partners can influence the future direction of children and young people's cancer services in Scotland
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Ensure that an equally high standard of care is available throughout Scotland
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Support the development of palliative care services
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Support national and local research
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Link with other Networks, organisations and groups
Methodology
The CATSCAN Executive Group membership is multidisciplinary including voluntary organisation and patient/parent representation. The Network is agreeing its work programme priorities and setting up Working Groups to:
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Invite nominations for membership from all NHS Boards that provide paediatric services including representatives from voluntary organisations, patient groups and patient, parent contacts
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Propose short and long term goals & outcomes
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Anticipate resource issues
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Recommend action for implementation
Working Groups will use quality improvement methodology to review, develop and evaluate patient safety and care by agreeing terms of reference that deliver outcomes in keeping with the wider objectives of the MCN.
Outcomes
To date CATSCAN has achieved the following outcomes:
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Held two meetings of the Executive Steering Group in January and March 2008
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Executive Group members are establishing Working Groups to address the four clinical priorities:
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Implementation of standards and levels of shared care
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Palliative care
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Teenagers and transition between services
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Survivorship and rehabilitation
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Four generic themes have been identified:
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education and training issues
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IT & telemedicine
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clinical governance issues including research
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patient, parent forum
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A lead person has been appointed to co-ordinate each generic theme and take account of work across the clinical priorities
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Preliminary work on the adaption of the NICE levels of care for use in the development of shared care for patients in Scotland
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A patient, parent forum is being established to inform the work of the Network
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Contact and visits with other organisations, Networks and stakeholders in Scotland
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Submitted responses to the consultations on Better Cancer Care[3] and the paediatric specialist services National Delivery Plan[2].
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Conclusions
At this early stage there is a great deal of enthusiasm and commitment from health service, voluntary organisations and patients to the development of the Network as a mechanism to improve cancer services for children and young people in Scotland.
References:
1. NICE, Improving Outcomes in Children and Young People with Cancer - Guidance on Cancer Services National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2005
2. Scottish Government, National Delivery Plan for Children and Young People's Specialist Services in Scotland, The Scottish Government, 2008
3. Scottish Government, Better Cancer Care, The Scottish Government, 2008
Revised 3 June 2008
Contact:
Annmarie MacRury
MCN Manager
Children & Young People's Cancer Services
Tel: 0131 537 (4)9289
Mob: 07904 367945
email: annmarie.macrury@nhs.net
or
Dr Hamish Wallace
MCN Clinical Lead
Tel: 0131 536 0426
Mob: 07866 855877
Email: Hamish.wallace@luht.scot.nhs.uk