Personalised Care and Support 

An Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA)  is offered following a cancer diagnosis and within 6 weeks of completion of your treatment and provides an opportunity to ensure people’s physical, practical, emotional and social needs are identified and addressed at the earliest opportunity. Completion of a HNA ensures peoples needs can be fully identified and that appropriate support can be planned.

IPOS is a brief assessment tool with questions relating to various symptoms and problems used to assess a patient's care needs, including physical and psychological symptoms, and support needs. Undertaking an IPOS allows you to think about ‘what matters to you  most’ and  helps us understand any concerns or symptoms you might be experiencing. By intervening earlier, this might improve and maintain your quality of life or help us direct you to the right services to support both you and those closest to you.

You will be offered an IPOS at key points on your cancer pathway. This may be posted out to you so you are able to complete at home and bring in with at your appointment.

Please feel free to contact your team if there are any questions that you might have.

What is Health and WellBeing Information and Support?

Health and Wellbeing Information and Support (HWBIS) can be offered to you in a variety of ways

One to one conversation with your clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or at the your local cancer centre

• At an education and support clinics and events ( these could be face to face or virtual)
• A voiced presentation sent via e-mail
• Short information video’s via this website, My Sunrise App or hospital websites
• Paper leaflets and pamphlets

The aim of widely sharing information with you, your family and friends is to increase your knowledge and choice of available services so you are better prepared and able to get the right support from the point of diagnosis. Generally the information will include advice on:-

• side effects of treatment and the recognition of issues
• details of who to contact.
• services available and how to access them
• work and finance
• emotional and psychological effects of a cancer diagnosis
• healthy lifestyles and physical activity.

We would highly recommend you attend or watch your offer of HWBIS as it is found that those engaging had

• increased knowledge of the potential side effects of treatment
• knew how to re-enter the system if they needed to do so.
• increased their knowledge of local services and how to access them
• a better understanding of a balanced diet and the importance of physical activity
• an overall improvement in their quality of life

What is an End of Treatment Summary?

An End of Treatment Summary or Treatment Summary is a document completed by your hospital clinical team either at the end of your treatment or after a significant phase of your treatment. It describes your treatment, potential side effects and signs and symptoms of recurrence and who to contact.

The aim of the End of Treatment Summary is to provide you, your GP and other primary care professionals with an up to date and clear account of your treatment alongside any actions that need to be taken and when, including who to contact with concerns. This can include information for conducting a Cancer Care Review.

What is a Primary cancer Care Review?

This is a discussion between you and your GP or practice nurse about your cancer and how it makes you feel. This should take place around three months after your diagnosis and usually again at 12 months . The aim is to continue find out what concerns you have and what information and support is available in your local area. This can enable supported self management.