In many GP surgeries a cancer patient is like an express train passing through … symptoms, a test or two and then referral to MK Hospital or beyond … and then, whoosh. Treatment takes place elsewhere and the patient, in the main, disappears off the practice’s immediate radar.

However as you know, increasingly cancer is becoming a disease which patients live with, long term. In addition, because cancer patients in remission may well be dealing longer term with a) side-effects from harsh cancer treatments and b) other co-morbidity health issues which can be impacted by cancer treatment … in brief, they come home to roost in the GPs’ surgery.

Patients’ discharge back into the community – how well does this really work? [Read more…]