What is personalised care?

The Macmillan cancer Personalised Care and Support Team is working across Northamptonshire to introduce personalised follow up care and the elements of the cancer personalised care to people living with cancer.  Personalised care is part of the NHS Long Term Plan for Cancer.

 

The personalised care consists of four elements:

 

The elements form part of an overall support and self-management package for people affected by cancer – physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, managing consequences of treatment, including in relation to finances and returning to work. 

 

Completion of a HNA is an opportunity for the person living with cancer to identify any physical, emotional and needs.  The assessment is in the form of a questionnaire and allows people to highlight the most important issues to them at the time.  If a care plan is needed as a result to address concerns raised this will be done jointly between the person living with cancer and their nurse or keyworker to identify how support can be accessed. 

 

A treatment summary will be in the form of a clinic letter to the GP (copied to the patient) and generated by a clinician, clinical nurse specialist or allied health professional after each phase of treatment. It will provide information about treatments received, the possible late effects, alert symptoms to act upon and details about who to contact.

 

Patients can use their treatment summary to self-refer to the Cancer Exercise Referral Programme with Northamptonshire Sport.

 

A cancer care review will usually take place within six months of diagnosis between the person living with cancer and their GP or practice nurse. It will be a discussion about experiences so far and sign-posting to further information and support if that is needed.

 

Education about health and wellbeing is crucial in helping people living with cancer to feel well supported throughout the pathway. The Northamptonshire Wellbeing Programme provides a number of options for people to access information and support through face-to-face events as well as online.

 

You can find out more about personalised care and support on the Macmillan website or by contacting Macmillan Information and Support Service in Kettering on 01536 493888.