In what is a first in Scotland, NHS Fife is putting the “unique needs” of cancer patients at the forefront of care if they are admitted as emergencies.
Fife women will also be able to have chemotherapy for gynaecological cancers on their own doorstep for the first time.
NHS Fife is developing the way it treats cancer patients who arrive at hospital as emergencies. It has appointed its first locally-based consultant oncologist, Dr Caroline Michie. She will oversee the development of a new acute oncology service.
A key aspect of her role has been to set up a team to enable the rapid, specialist assessment of the needs of patients who are admitted to hospital as emergencies and have been receiving treatment for any cancers; the appointment is the first of its kind in Scotland.
As part of improvements to its local cancer services, gynaecological cancer patients will be assessed and treated at the haematology and oncology day unit on ward 34 at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital.
This means they will be able to receive their treatment in the kingdom instead of having to face a lengthy trip across the Forth to Edinburgh. Previous arrangements meant patients travelled to the Western General for care.
All oncology treatment for Fife patients is overseen by consultants who are predominantly based at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre.
Dr Michie and the acute oncology team already have close links with Edinburgh, which will play a key role in improving patient experiences by progressing inter-hospital communication and the co-ordination of care.
She said: “NHS Fife is committed to improving both the care it provides and the experiences of its patients and feedback has consistently expressed that travelling over the Forth for treatment was an inconvenience.
“This was particularly the case for those living in central or north east Fife, the elderly or frail, those undergoing long infusions of chemotherapy or those with transport issues.
“Not only do these improvements directly address this but due to having fewer patients waiting for an appointment, it is likely the changes will result in shorter waiting times, with the added benefit that the day unit in Fife is a quieter environment for patients and visitors.”
She added the new acute oncology service will also bring significant benefits to cancer patients, who can have real confidence that their unique needs were being put at the forefront of care.
“This is a first for Scotland, which shows that NHS Fife is leading the way in providing innovative cancer care in Scotland,” she added.