A Study of the Incidence and Management of Admissions for Cancer-related Symptoms in a District General Hospital: the Potential Role of an Acute Oncology Service

摘要

Aims: The non-specialist management of cancer patients is becoming increasingly complex. Acute oncology services (AOS), aiming to provide rapid access to specialist advice, have been shown to improve patient experience and reduce length of inpatient stay. The present study aimed to inform service provision in a district general hospital (DGH) by investigating cancer patients, not on active anti-cancer treatment, where the disease itself precipitated admission. This is a vulnerable group who are potentially disenfranchised of focused oncological input due to having less robust care pathways established to date.