Acute Oncology Service (AOS) in NHS Scotland: principles

5. Overarching Aims

The overarching aim is to improve quality of care and outcomes for this acutely unwell patient group via a co-ordinated and sustainable approach to AOSs across Scotland.

This would be achieved by establishing robust and fully functional specialist AOSs serving every hospital with acute medicine units/emergency departments - recognising that in some areas, particularly remote and rural areas, this may be achieved by having 24/7 access to AO advice and services from appropriately trained staff in a Cancer Centre - and ensuring that there is a dedicated AO Lead in each of the 5 Cancer Centres.

An additional key aim is to support realistic medicine with delivery of the right treatment, in the right place, first time. This will facilitate release of capacity in, and provide crucial support to, General Medicine and acute medicine units/ emergency departments and release of capacity in tumour specific oncology departments.