Rapid Adaptation of Acute Oncology Services in One of the UK’s Largest NHS Foundation Trusts; Responding to COVID-19 and Beyond

Abstract

Background: Acute oncology (AO) is a well-established subspeciality of oncology, supporting patients with complications of their cancer or its treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted changes in the delivery of both inpatient and outpatient cancer services to reduce face-to-face contact and limit patient exposure to secondary care environments. This necessitated urgent reconfiguration of acute oncology services (AOS) across Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STHFT), as recommended by national guidelines.