Sources of evidence

Information about cancer patients needs to be up to date as prognosis and treatment may change dramatically even over a few weeks. A hospital factual report will contain this information.

Community

• General Practitioner - the family doctor will have information from the hospital on diagnosis and treatment, this may not be up to date. For people who are living at home with disabilities, the GP is likely to have up to date information on how they are.
• Community or District Nurse - will have information on any home care or outreach package in place as this is coordinated through the practice.
• Social worker - customer may have a ‘Care plan’ from social services

Hospital

Specialist doctors:

• Oncologist
• Physician
• Haematologist

Specialist nurses have many different job titles:

• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Stoma care nurse
• Macmillan Nurse

They are likely to be very knowledgeable about the disease in which they specialise and have up to date knowledge on a person’s treatment and disabilities.

Professions Allied to Medicine:

• Physiotherapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Social worker
• Counsellor
• Psychologist

Also refer to the ‘Symptomatic treatments’ page.S

Hospice

Hospice Specialists:

• Palliative Care Physician
• Macmillan Nurse
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Social worker
• Physiotherapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Counsellor

Amended November 2008