What does implementing PSFU in cancer pathways look like?

It ensures that when a person completes their primary treatment they will be offered:

  • Information about signs and symptoms to look out for, which could suggest their cancer has recurred.
  • Rapid re-access to their cancer team, including telephone advice and support, if they are worried about any symptoms, including possible side-effects of treatment.
  • Regular surveillance scans or tests (depending on cancer type), with quicker and easier access to results so that any anxiety is kept to a minimum.
  • Personalised care and support planning and support for self-management, to help them to improve their health and wellbeing in the long-term.

What are the benefits of PSFU?

For Patients

  • Access to better care that is personalised, based on individual needs
  • Provides more support for those with complex conditions
  • Help detect/manage cancer-related issues, connect people to suitable services and improves follow up rates
  • Support for self-management includes early detection of symptoms, direct access to healthcare teams, improved understanding and confidence and lifestyle changes to reduce cancer risks
  • Enhanced patient experience by minimising hospital visits and reducing anxiety through timely results

 

For Professionals

  • Improved continuity of care with better query triage, quicker access to specialists and stronger communications with primary care teams
  • Enhanced knowledge of managing side effects and navigating referral pathways for further support
  • Referral/signposting to services and third sector support

For Systems

  • Enhances productivity by optimising professionals time, outpatient capacity and minimising duplicate tests
  • Strengthens care integration and communication
  • Reduces unplanned care demand and increases cost transparency, ensuring resources go to patients with complex needs

If you are looking to implement PSFU in your clinical team, are reviewing your current PSFU pathway or would just like more information, there is lots of resources below which have been created by Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance to help you on your way.

PSFU Patient Video – ‘What does PSFU mean to me?’ – this video is designed to be used by all PSFU tumour sites alongside your PSFU information leaflets, letters and education session. This is not to replace any face to face/virtual education sessions but may accompany as an additional resource for patients to access. This can be placed on trust websites or patient portals.

 

 

Patient Satisfaction Survey

1. Identify the Right Team: Assemble a team with the necessary skills, abilities, and enthusiasm to support the implementation. This includes clinical leads, nurse specialists, managers, and patient representatives.

2. Obtain Executive and Senior Medical Buy-In: Secure support from senior medical staff and executives to ensure alignment with corporate objectives and improvement strategies.

3. Understand the Current Pathway: Map the current patient pathway from referral to follow-up to identify areas for improvement.

4. Understand Patient Needs: Engage with patients to understand their needs and ensure the changes will improve their experience.

5. Identify Baseline Data and Ongoing Measures: Establish baseline data to measure improvements and monitor the impact of changes.

6. Develop a Programme Plan: Create a detailed plan outlining the project's goals, delivery methods, and expected timescales.

7. Communication Plan: Develop a communication plan to keep stakeholders informed and engaged throughout the implementation process.

1. Planning:

1. Discuss planned changes with key stakeholders

2. Develop draft criteria for stratification

3. Confirm processes to support pathway implementation

4. Agree on audit and baseline measures

2. Testing and Implementation:

1. Undertake a prospective audit to test criteria and identify likely impact

2. Review criteria and agree on operational protocol

3. Plan the transition to the new pathway

4. Prepare documentation to support the launch

3. Sustainability:

1. Include protocol within multidisciplinary clinical guidelines

2. Embed processes within clinical and administrative job plans

3. Audit and collect patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)

4. Adjust clinic templates to address changing demand

  • Remote Monitoring: Implement a remote monitoring system to manage ongoing surveillance test.
  • Needs Assessment and Care Planning: Introduce structured needs assessments and care planning discussions at key points in the pathway.
  • Personal Care Records and Treatment Summaries: Provide patients with personal care records and treatment summaries to improve communication and support self-management.
  • Timely Re-Access: Ensure patients have rapid access to professionals if needed.
  • Information and Education: Tailor information, advice, and support to individual needs.
  • Care Coordination: Work together with various organisations to provide seamless coordinated care.
  • Self-Management: Encourage patients to take responsibility for optimising their future health and well-being.

Please utilise NHSE’s documentation to support implementation: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cancer-stratified-follow-up-handbook-v1-march-2020.pdf

If you require further support in implementing a new PSFU pathway please contact the Living with and Beyond Cancer Team at: ccf-tr.cmcatreatmentandcare@nhs.net