Acute Oncology Service (AOS) in NHS Scotland: principles

8. Key Responsibilities

Scottish Government

To endorse for implementation nationally agreed core principles, standards and outcome measures. To allocate the necessary resource to deliver these, and to set out national requirements for performance monitoring.

National AO Group

Agreeing clinical standards, key principles and national outcome measures, and develop national guidance and standardised protocols, where appropriate. Analysis and monitoring of national AO data based on submissions from Regions. Development of education programmes for AO.

Regional AO Groups

Take forward development of regional AOS models and support local implementation. Analysis and monitoring of AO data, based on submissions from Cancer Centres and NHS Boards.

Cancer Centre Specialist Oncology Services

To lead on development of hub and spoke services which align to national principles, particularly equity of access. This will include the implementation of pathways, protocols, and data collection.

To develop a coordinated training programme tailored to the needs of the multi-professional team which contributes to AOS provision. This will include arrangements for competency sign-off.

Take day-to-day leadership responsibility for supporting robust and flexible specialist AOSs, tailored to local needs within their regional service, ensuring seamless care and timely specialist oncology intervention across health care boundaries.

Cancer Centres will allocate consultant AO sessions to ensure appropriate service continuity at all times

Local Acute Oncology Service Team

Delivery of a clinical service by an appropriately trained specialist AO Team; review of/advice on AO patients within 24 hours of acute presentation; delivery of an AO induction and education programme; and collection of data in line with agreed Minimum Data Set.

Local team will allocate clinical sessions to ensure appropriate service continuity at all times.

AOS to promote service to make visible to local primary and secondary care teams.

Local NHS Boards

To implement fully constituted specialist AOSs that deliver against the required standards and outcome measures, supporting data collection and submission for regional and national comparative reporting. Support staff to undertake necessary education and training.

Local Management Team

In recognition of the vital role the specialist AOS provides to both acute and cancer services, to provide dedicated job planned sessions in AO and CUP for medical, nursing and support staff. This should include administration and service development time to ensure effective running of services.

Urgent care providers

Understanding the key role of specialist AOSs and working in close collaboration with them to provide care to the cancer patient presenting in the emergency setting.

To engage with AOS education and training opportunities as appropriate.

Work in partnership with AO colleagues and provide appropriate and timely referrals in line with agreed service criteria.