MACMILLAN AFTERCARE REHABILITATION TEAM MARS Anne Hope Head

MACMILLAN AFTERCARE REHABILITATION TEAM (MARS) Anne Hope Head and Neck CNS.

Background to MARS • Lack of local specialist aftercare services in Surrey/Hampshire/Sussex • Non- compliant with National /local policies and guidelines, e. g. (NICE, 2004) • Post treatment HNC patients lacked local support in rehabilitation and support following treatment. • Number of cancer survivors growing • Inconsistent access to support services and specialist follow up across cancer alliance.

AIMS OF THE MARS TEAM • To provide a multi-disciplinary, holistic specialist service to HNC patients and their families throughout follow up. • To provide follow up closer to patients home. • To promote self management in a supportive environment and facilitate/sign post to local support services. • To meet national and local policies and guidelines on cancer survivorship and rehabilitation.

MARS OBJECTIVES • • Improve patient and career experience. Facilitates patient choice. Reduce avoidable / inappropriate hospital admissions. Reduce post surgical treatment complications, e. g. chest infections/tube site infections. • Reduce oral and enteral nutritional supplementation through SALT/dietetic. • Proactive support for laryngectomy patients reducing emergency laryngectomy replacements and support self management of laryngectomy and stoma.

Planning of MARS • • Discussions with local PCT’S Time line devised on clinical activity and need. Models of potential teams devised Support and funding obtained from Macmillan Cancer Support • Steering group commenced. • Discussions with commissioners.

NEW PATIENTS REFERRED FOR TREATMENT TO CANCER CENTRE (Surgery/Radiotherapy/Chemo-radiation /palliative care) RT/CRT Followed up at centre 3/12 Surgery @RSCH Palliative Care No further treatment – refer to MARS PORT/CRT Palliative Treatment @RSCH Disease recurrence –refer to MDT @RSCH On completion of palliative treatment refer to MARS / Local Palliative care services

Benefits of MARS • More effective clinics at Cancer Centre. • Improved patient/carer experience. • Multi-disciplinary team approach for rehabilitation and cancer survivorship locally. • Reduced admissions for SVR emergencies. Reduce rate of feeding tube infections. • Reduction in the cost nutritional supplements in the community.