Taking the lead: nurses collaborating to improve acute oncology services

The acute oncology team at North Devon District Hospital has developed a highly revered service, supporting patients with cancer who are acutely unwell. Their innovative nurse-led approach has attracted several other hospital sites to replicate this model in their areas. The service has developed over several years to now deliver specialist nursing assessment and support consistently seven days a week for patients in North Devon. The success of the initiative is due to the hard work of every member of the team, each playing a critical role in its development.

In this article…

• How an initiative at North Devon District Hospital led to better support for cancer patients

• The benefits of introducing nurse-led assessment of ambulatory patients

• How to go about creating a seven-day service

Nursing Times Awards

This initiative won the Team of the Year category in the 2023 Nursing Times Awards.

To find out more about the Nursing Times Awards go to awards.nursingtimes.net

Key points

A nurse-led team initiative has made a huge difference to patient care

Support services for acutely unwell cancer patients were extended and improved

Teamwork was central to improving the care pathway for patients

The service also prioritised professional development and identified a clear career progression pathway for staff members