Following a ‘call to action’ to identify solutions to one of the East Midlands’ biggest healthcare challenges, three transformational projects are to receive a total of £300,000 funding which will assist with putting these innovations into practice.

With over 23,000 new cases each year, tackling Cancer across the region and efficiently meeting the growing demands which the disease places upon health services is a key priority for the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN). Today’s announcement follows a recent region-wide ‘Innovation Exchange’ event organised by EMAHSN to bring together experts to discuss the challenge and identify innovative solutions. EMAHSN has worked with a range of representatives from the NHS, universities, patient groups, cancer charities and industry.
EMAHSN is supporting projects related to the diagnosis and treatment of Cancer, through the use of technology or revised service provision arrangements to improve services and outcomes for patients and / or provide efficiencies for NHS providers and commissioners throughout the East Midlands. The projects range from a collaboration with Amgen Ltd. - a major pharmaceutical company - to working with a small medium enterprise (SME) developed from The University of Nottingham. As well as initial funding, EMAHSN will also provide expertise and support in order to overcome barriers to the rapid implementation of these innovations across the whole of the East Midlands.

Within the coming 12 months every county of the East Midlands should benefit from the introduction of a least one of these innovations:

Breast cancer risk screening. This initiative will reduce unnecessary hospital referrals, saving costs, plus increase access to screening in the community for patients. Using innovative software – called ‘Family History Risk Assessment Software’ (FaHRAS) – the project will assist GP’s in determining a person’s likelihood of developing breast cancer, and any requirement for a secondary care assessment, within primary care settings.

Previously only available in hospitals once patients have already been referred, the software will be available in doctors’ surgeries initially in parts of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The FaHRAS tool has been proven to improve levels of detection for patients who need it most whilst significantly reducing numbers of inappropriate referrals to specialist hospital-based services.

Professor John Robertson Professor of Surgery, University of Nottingham who is working with FaHRAS on supporting the deployment of the system said; “We are incredibly proud to have made it through the proposal process with EMAHSN and can’t wait to bring the capabilities of FaHRAS into the community. FaHRAS can help identify at risk patients and will save money by reducing the need for assessments to take place in a hospital setting”.

Improving post cancer diagnosis outcomes for patients. This project will support healthcare professionals, including NHS, social care, charities and carers, to provide seamless care for people who have a new cancer diagnosis. It focuses on implementing the Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) tool (a national requirement) in a consistent electronic format. This is first time the tool will be available electronically, enabling rapid sharing with all parties involved in care of the patient. It provides patients with the opportunity to complete the assessment themselves using an iPad or supported by a healthcare professional.

The assessment can take place in community or hospital settings and will help provide improved planning and delivery of care services. Patients can identify unmet needs, such as pain management, and the tool should improve quality of life for many people.

Initially the eHNA will roll out in Nottinghamshire by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust working with Macmillan Cancer Support in conjunction with local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and other care providers.

Lisa Janiec, Macmillan Pathways Redesign Programme Manager and lead for the eHNA project said; “It’s fantastic that EMAHSN has backed us to help put into practice an electronic version of this tool. The eHNA will really help clinicians and care providers offer joined up and personalised support to give patients following their initial diagnosis, to ensure their holistic needs are being met.”

Moving therapy for bone metastases in cancer patients into the community. This innovation focuses upon moving the administration of Denosumab (XGEVA®), a NICE-recommended drug therapy for adults with advanced cancer, from a hospital setting into the community.

On average it is expected to save £58 per administration of the drug and will bring care closer to home for many patients across the East Midlands. It will also help to free up capacity in hospital oncology departments. The project is a joint working agreement with Amgen Ltd. and builds upon work already undertaken by Amgen Ltd., University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Leicestershire CCGs.

Denosumab (XGEVA®) is a drug which is given to patients to prevent serious complications where cancer has spread to the bone. Currently XGEVA is mainly provided in hospitals, but with support from EMAHSN this joint project brings the therapy into the community making it much more convenient for cancer patients as well as saving money for the NHS. EMAHSN will support CCGs to implement this in a community setting.

Mark Sheppey, Value Solutions Manager, from Amgen Ltd. commented; “Providing care closer to home for patients that need it most will become a reality for hundreds of people across the East Midlands by moving this therapy from hospitals to local GPs”.

EMAHSN Managing Director, Professor Rachel Munton said: “One of the EMAHSN’s key remits is to help implement proven innovations at pace and scale across the region – improving the health of the region and supporting wealth creation.

“We are particularly excited by the involvement of industry, both small and large companies, and the third-sector in these projects which mark the start of our cancer programme. We are genuinely pleased to support the implementation of such potentially life changing projects for cancer patients and their families across the East Midlands”.

EMAHSN will be providing regular updates about the projects on their website.

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Note to editors:

- The East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) is one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks in England. EMAHSN brings together the NHS, universities, industry and social care to transform the health of the region’s 4.5M residents and stimulate wealth. Current priorities focus on identifying and spreading innovations that address challenges including cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental health, Technology Care Enabled Services and support for frail older people.

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