Cancer affects 23,000 people across the East Midlands each year and evidence shows that 1 in 2 people will now develop cancer. Thanks to a new cancer holistic needs assessment tool, Nottinghamshire patients are receiving nationally acclaimed care and support. 

Working with Macmillan Cancer Support, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust set about trying to address patients’ unmet needs through the implementation of a structured Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) and care plan. This is a person centred plan that ensures cancer patients’ physical, practical, emotional, spiritual and social needs are addressed in an appropriate way.

Writing plans can be time consuming and paper versions are not always shared easily with other health and social are professionals. In November 2015, the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) supported the extension of HNAs to a user-friendly electronic version which now means patients can complete them using a tablet and/or at home in their own time if they so wish. The assessment looks at a patient’s top “concerns” and then ranks these in order of priority.

eHNAs and subsequent development of a care plan can greatly improve the coordination of care and outcomes for people living with and beyond cancer. The assessment is a way of ensuring people’s needs are identified to enable care planning to be personalised for the patient.

The electronic assessment feeds to a secure, central web-based database that supports the creation of an individual patient-centred digital care plan, that is shared not only with healthcare practitioners across primary and secondary care enhancing joined-up care, but also with the patient; empowering them to take an active role in their care and self-management.

Throughout most of 2016 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has been ranked 2nd out of a total of 72 UK NHS Trusts participating in the Macmillan eHNA project in relation to eHNA/care plan activity. The Trust was delighted to be shortlisted for two prestigious Nursing Times awards at their annual awards ceremony held on 26 October in London:

1. Cancer Nursing Category – ‘The introduction of eHNA in a Chemotherapy day-case setting’ at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

2. Technology and Data in Nursing Category – ‘The use of eHNA’s to improve cancer patient experience’ at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Results of a recent patient survey at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust found that 95% of patients said they would recommend the eHNA and care plan process to someone who has been told they have cancer.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust are one of the first UK sites to be working with primary and community care to embed the eHNA/care plan process within their clinical practice. Furthermore, they are the first UK site to be working with the Chemotherapy Department to integrate eHNA and care plans into the day case unit.

Sean McVeigh, Programme Manager Better for You, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said; “We want to create meaningful care plans for our patients, with our patients. The eHNAs are highlighting areas of patient need where we can make a difference and ultimately this is better for patients.

“I’d like to thank all the staff involved so far, everyone has worked together to develop the tool based around their services and how they can add value to the patient. I’m thrilled that this hard work has been rewarded by being shortlisted for the Nursing Times Awards.”

Mike Hannay, Managing Director of EMAHSN said; “EMAHSN is proud to be supporting and enhancing a proven tool which is helping identify patients’ needs. Creating a plan of care which is understood and shared amongst teams saves patients having to repeat their stories and wishes multiple times to different healthcare professionals and really gets to the core of what patients need. Congratulations goes to all the teams involved in making this happen.”

Lisa Janiec, Macmillan Cancer Pathways Programme Manager at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said; “We started extending HNAs and making them electronic because we believed it was the right thing to do for patients. Being shortlisted is the icing on the cake and I hope it means other NHS trusts can take eHNAs as far as we have in Nottingham.”

The eHNA project is part of the Macmillan Cancer Partnership in Nottinghamshire which has seen the charity invest over £3.5 million in improving local cancer services across the county.

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Note to editors:

Watch our video with staff feedback about the project so far here: https://vimeo.com/187782917

The project is being led by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust with involvement from Macmillan Cancer Support and the 6 Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Groups. EMAHSN has provided funding for the project until August 2017.

The key components of HNA and care planning are:

Self assessment using a structured HNA tool, delivered at key transition points of the care pathway

A conversation between the person with cancer and the clinician, to discuss the needs identified in the assessment and develop a plan of care

A simple care plan/action plan that is co-created by, and owned by, the person living with cancer

Referral or signposting to appropriate information or support services

About EMAHSN

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 4.6M residents and stimulate wealth. Current priorities focus on identifying and spreading innovations that address challenges including cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental health, respiratory disease, liver disease and support for frail older people.

For more information about the EMAHSN visit www.healthinnovation-em.org.uk or follow @EM_AHSN

About Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the biggest and busiest acute hospitals in England, employing 14,000 staff. Providing care to over 2.5million residents of Nottingham and its surrounding communities and specialist services to a further 3-4million people from neighbouring counties.

The Trust has three main sites:

Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) – where our Emergency Department (A&E) major trauma centre and Nottingham Children’s Hospital are located. The QMC is also home to The University of Nottingham’s School of Nursing and Medical School

Nottingham City Hospital – where our cancer centre, heart centre and stroke services are based, and where we focus on planned care and the care of patients with long-term conditions

Ropewalk House – where we provide a range of outpatient services, including hearing services

The Trust’s annual turnover is £908million. They have approximately 1,700 beds (87 wards).

To find out more visit www.nuh.nhs.uk or follow @nottmhospitals on Twitter.

About Macmillan Cancer Support

When you have cancer, you don’t just worry about what will happen to your body, you worry about what will happen to your life. Whether it’s concerns about who you can talk to, planning for the extra costs or what to do about work, at Macmillan we understand how a cancer diagnosis can take over everything.

That’s why we’re here. We provide support that helps people take back control of their lives. But right now, we can’t reach everyone who needs us. We need your help to make sure that people affected by cancer get the support they need to face the toughest fight of their life. No one should face cancer alone, and with your support no one will.

To get involved, call 0300 1000 200 today. And please remember, we’re here for you too. If you’d like support, information or just to chat, call us free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm) or visit www.macmillan.org.uk

Nursing Times Awards

https://awards.nursingtimes.net/

Media enquiries: Chris Taylor 0115 748 4242 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Lucy Hose 0115 748 4243 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.