Dr Julie Walabyeki J.Walabyeki@hull.ac.uk
Lecturer in Primary Care
Dr Julie Walabyeki J.Walabyeki@hull.ac.uk
Lecturer in Primary Care
Mr Matthew Dell
Professor Michael Lind M.J.Lind@hull.ac.uk
Foundation Professor of Oncology/ Head of the Joint Centre for Cancer Studies
Dr Elizabeth Mitchell
Professor Una Macleod U.M.Macleod@hull.ac.uk
Professor of Primary Care Medicine
Dr Olufikayo Bamidele O.Bamidele@hull.ac.uk
NIHR Advanced Fellow
The global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has led to the disruption of cancer care services, as healthcare resources (personnel, facilities) were reprioritised to respond to the pandemic. The implications of this for cancer outcomes and patients’ psychosocial wellbeing cannot be underestimated, particularly in the UK which has the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in Europe. To reduce community spread and minimise pressure on the NHS, a lockdown period (March-June 2020) was enforced, and high-risk groups (including cancer patients) were mandated to self-isolate and avoid social contact. Face-to-face medical consultations were replaced by telephone/video consultations, and elective surgery was postponed. Patients reported fear of consulting for symptoms or attending investigative or specialist appointments, and there has been a 76% drop in urgent cancer referrals and a 60% reduction in chemotherapy attendance. The urgent reconfiguration of secondary care delivery (e.g. treatment changes) led to further deterioration of cancer outcomes and increased anxiety among diagnosed patients and their families. It is likely therefore, that care was disrupted not only for patients with potential cancer symptoms, but also for those who were already on the diagnostic pathway in March 2020, or who had an established cancer diagnosis pre-lockdown but were still undergoing/awaiting treatment.
The key role played by healthcare professionals (HCPs) and social networks in providing support for cancer patients at critical stages of their illness journey is well established. Hence, the likely impact of self-isolation and changes in cancer care delivery on illness experience and psychosocial wellbeing of cancer patients cannot be underestimated. However, this is currently poorly understood, since cancer care research conducted during the pandemic has been predominantly quantitative. Consequently, qualitative research is needed to provide useful insights to inform policy and practice for improved patient experience in cancer care during immediate and future pandemics. This will be key to maintaining existing gains around early diagnosis, and achieving the NHS’ long-term plan of improved cancer services shaped by an understanding of patients’ experiences and their suggestions for improved care.
Project Acronym | YCR Cancercare |
---|---|
Status | Project Complete |
Funder(s) | Yorkshire Cancer Research |
Value | £125,927.00 |
Project Dates | Apr 1, 2021 - Oct 31, 2024 |
PEOPLE: Primary care and community Engagement to Optimise time to Presentation with Lung cancEr symptoms in HULL Jun 1, 2017 - Jun 30, 2023
More people are diagnosed with and die from lung cancer in Hull than any other place in Yorkshire. Our aim is to improve earlier diagnosis of lung cancer by [1] getting people to see their doctor if they get lung symptoms and [2] getting GPs to refe...
Read More about PEOPLE: Primary care and community Engagement to Optimise time to Presentation with Lung cancEr symptoms in HULL.
REDUCE: REviewing long term anti-Depressant Use by Careful monitoring in Everyday practice programme Oct 1, 2016 - Jun 30, 2023
There is considerable concern about increasing antidepressant use in England, as in other countries. Prescriptions have increased year on year since the early 1990s, and GPs in England are giving out more than 50 million prescriptions every year, to...
Read More about REDUCE: REviewing long term anti-Depressant Use by Careful monitoring in Everyday practice programme.
Empress: NAEDI Cancer diagnosis via emergency presentation: a case control study (colorectal and lung cancer) Oct 1, 2015 - Sep 30, 2020
Cancer remains one of the UK’s biggest health issues, both in terms of morbidity and mortality. In recent years there has been increasing interest in the pathway to diagnosis, as international data have shown that one year survival figures for many c...
Read More about Empress: NAEDI Cancer diagnosis via emergency presentation: a case control study (colorectal and lung cancer).
CANAssess: Reducing inequalities in care for people with cancer and palliative care needs: a programme of work for cancer patients and caregivers in the community based in Yorkshire Sep 1, 2016 - Jan 30, 2019
People with cancer need good access to palliative care to relieve distressing symptoms, but some get better access than others. Developed in Australia, the Needs Assessment Tool - Progressive Disease Cancer (NAT:PD-C) is a tested, "everyday practice"...
Read More about CANAssess: Reducing inequalities in care for people with cancer and palliative care needs: a programme of work for cancer patients and caregivers in the community based in Yorkshire.
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