Abstract
Abstract Background Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancers account for 11% of cancers in the UK, with oesophago-gastric cancers having the highest incidence rate in males. Since publication of the NHS Cancer Plan in 2001, mortality rates of oesophago-gastric cancer patients following curative surgery have been decreasing, causing an increased demand for services, particularly during follow-up post-operatively. Current guidelines recommend that patients are treated by specialised multi-disciplinary teams, involving both cancer nurse specialists and dieticians. However, the integration of these workers into patient care is still ongoing in UGI, with no national recommendations for trusts on the minimum requirements needed to run adequate services. Methods This was a retrospective observational study from October 2020 to April 2021. Cancer nurse specialists from all cancer trusts in England and Wales carrying out surgical resection of oesophago-gastric tumours were identified and contacted to complete a survey. The survey was divided into 4 main themes: the organisational setup of the trust, the follow-up of patients, the dietetic input and post-operative symptoms and survivorship. Results A total of 12 trusts out of 38 returned a completed survey. Differences were observed in the number of CNSs and UGI dieticians available across trusts. 50% of responders felt that the number of CNSs at their trust was not adequate to run efficient services for patients. In 42% of cases, the CNS was solely responsible for long-term follow-up of patients, up to 5-years in the majority of trusts. 11 trusts routinely follow-up patients with a dietician, integrated into MDT clinics. 75% of trusts had an associated patient group that could provide additional support to patients. Conclusions Differences in the availabilities of services and staff for oesophago-gastric cancer patients are present across trusts in England, which can lead to inequalities in patient care. Further longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the impact of these differences on patient surgical outcomes and mortality.
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