The Trust has 10 Specialist Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Teams. Each is made up of doctors, nurses and other experts who have received specialist training and experience in a particular cancer i.e. breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer. The teams work together on a daily basis to ensure that our cancer patients receive the best possible care and treatment. The teams also meet formally on a regular basis to review and agree individual patient treatment plans.
Patients and their relatives get to know members of these teams and see them when they visit the hospital for appointments. Each patient has a named specialist member of the team (keyworker), who acts as a single point of contact, and knows everything about the patient’s case. They support them and their relatives/carers in managing and understanding their cancer care. The keyworker is often the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).

The oncology services are not delivered on site and patient’s will be referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital or to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton for radiotherapy and chemotherapy services.

Inpatient haematology services are delivered with a 14-bed inpatient haematology ward at Sandwell. Radiotherapy services are delivered at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

The Acute Oncology Service at SWBH delivers a systematic approach to dealing with all patients potentially suffering from the acute complications of cancer treatments (i.e. chemotherapy/radiotherapy).
The AOS aims to deliver a comprehensive acute oncology service with the capability to provide rapid access to oncological expertise and skills and high quality streamlined pathways for patients with suspected cancer and those suffering from the complications of cancer or its treatment. The team operates a specialist nurse lead service supported by two acute oncology lead clinicians working within the context of the acute oncology team.
Patient initiated contact:
Patients are provided with a contact card during the pre-chemotherapy talk which advises them of the process to follow in or out-of-hours should they have a problem with chemotherapy.

The Cancer Services team are dedicated to the provision of high quality support services to the Trust MDTs and in developing the Trust’s cancer strategy. We are committed to:
• Monitoring development and action against the Trust’s cancer strategy
• Delivering on the national cancer waiting times
• Delivery of national cancer measures and participation in the national Quality Surveillance Programme Provision of support in national cancer data set collection and development
• Effective service improvement to better streamline the patient pathway and improve patient experience and efficiency
• Patient engagement, including patient evaluation of Trust delivered cancer services
• The provision of patient information and support services
• Provision of effective and streamlined MDT meetings and coordination services
• Cancer Information and Support Services (CISS) at the Courtyard Centre

Cancer Information and Support Services (CISS)
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust’s CISS has been open since January 2001, and operates from The Courtyard Centre (CYC) based in the main reception area of Sandwell General Hospital. The service provides support and information to anyone affected by cancer within the Sandwell and West Birmingham Communities, including patients, their families and carers, as well as ealth professionals.
The CISS is a volunteer-led service offering free information and support services by either drop-in or telephone daily, between the hours of 10am and 4pm,. This is offered within a friendly and informal atmosphere. The Centre is supported by Clinical Nurse Specialists and provides the following services:
• Information resources
• Lending library
• Signposting to cancer support services and local support groups
• Cancer Patient Support Services (Headways, Look Good…Feel Better, Wig Fitting)

HeadWays
Headways Hair Loss Advisory and Support Service is a confidential, free service run by specially trained volunteers for those suffering hair loss as a result of treatment for any type of cancer (not just breast cancer). Volunteers deliver appointments in pairs and will offer practical information and support around hair loss due to cancer treatment, on an individual appointment basis. Headways appointments take place on Wednesday afternoons at the Courtyard Centre, and last up to an hour.

Look Good…Feel Better
Workshops are held on alternative months at City Hospital, Birmingham. The service offers practical help to women undergoing treatments for cancer, which can dramatically change their appearance and body image, e.g. loss of hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. During the free two-hour workshops, trained beauticians guide patients through a 12-step skincare and make-up regime. Everyone is given a complementary gift bag of products to take home at the end of the session. Further information about Look Good Feel Better can be found at https://www.lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk

Wig fitting services
We work in partnership with local businesses who provide the fitting of wigs and hairpieces and offer advice and support to patients who may be experiencing hair loss as a result of treatment for any type of cancer.

Welfare Benefits Advice and Support – Macmillan Citizens Advise Benefits Teams
This Macmillan supported service provides welfare benefits advice to patients living in Sandwell and West Birmingham who are affected by cancer, including patients, relatives and carers. The service is for clients at any stage of the cancer journey from diagnosis to end of life . The team’s benefits advisers provide free face to face help and support in assessing and receiving financial help entitlement, They have specialist knowledge of welfare benefits, tax credits and grants and can offer up-to-date, invaluable advice Advisers are currently available at Sandwell Hospital on Mondays and City Hospital on Fridays and at various other hospitals across the West Midlands region. Referrals are via Cancer Specialist Nurse or self-referral by calling 01384 817721.

Lymphoedema Services
The lymphoedema Service is available to all adults with a Birmingham or Sandwell GP, with a chronic oedema (abnormal swelling encountered by some cancer patients) or who are at risk of developing a chronic oedema requiring an assessment, diagnosis and management plan. See the “contact” page for more details.

Whenever someone is diagnosed with cancer or a condition that may lead to cancer, the NHS team looking after you will record information about you and the care you receive. This applies to people of all ages, including children.
Hospitals and doctors are allowed by law to pass this information onto the National Cancer Registry which is part of Public Health England., but we need to make sure that patients know this is happening.

What do you need to know about me?

We need to know some details about you (such as your name, address, age and sex). We need these details to make sure we are recording the right information about the right person. We also need to know about the type of cancer or condition you have, the treatment you are receiving or have already received and your progress. We need this information to help us to identify possible causes of cancer and to find out about the best treatments.

Do I need to do anything?

You do not need to do anything – there are no forms to fill in and nothing to sign. Your hospital or doctor will  share the relevant information to  the registry during your care.

What will you do with this information?

The registry is very careful with private information and follows strict rules about how it is kept and who can use it. Information is stored on computers with secure passwords, and in paper files in locked storage cabinets.  It is all kept strictly confidential and is only available to appropriate staff.

Will anyone contact me?

No one from the cancer registry will contact you.

They sometimes release information to approved cancer researchers under strict conditions.  For most cancer research, patients do not need to be contacted, but in some cases they do. If a researcher needs to contact you, they will only ever do this with the approval of your own doctor.

Do I have a choice?

Yes, you can object and this will not affect the care you receive. However, in order to work properly, the registration system needs to know about everyone with cancer.

Your details help care teams to learn how best to treat cancer, make sure they provide the best care, and help to find out the causes of cancer.

If you are concerned about your details being registered or any other issues raised here, please discuss this with your doctor.

Where can I get more information?
If you have any questions, you can get more information by:

• asking your doctor
• visiting www.ndrs.nhs.uk or www.nhs.uk/your-data-matters. The website has a useful section on common questions about the cancer registration system and how the NHS uses information

If you still do not want your information included in the national cancer registry, you can then inform your doctor or email optout@phe.gov.uk