Optimising Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) Delivery Within a Leading Tertiary Cancer Centre in Southeast Wales
Authors: Walters Matthew 
Published: January 2024

Expansion and enhancement of Same Day Emergency Care at Velindre Cancer Centre during 2022 compromises of Ambulatory Care Unit, Assessment Unit, Patient Support Unit and Immunotherapy toxicities service.

To provide better value-based healthcare we have introduced an Immunotherapy Toxicities service plus expanded the existing Ambulatory Care Unit and Patient Support Unit providing 12-hour weekday working including a weekend service.

The need for a dedicated Immunotherapy service was highlighted following NHS data which anticipated a growth of 240% in Immunotherapy treatments over the next 5 years with Immunotherapy treatments having already increased by 49% from 2018/19 to 2020/21.

Without investment this would have led to increasing admissions in South East Wales Health Boards by over 320 patients per annum. This increase would perpetuate the strain on the Ambulatory Unit within VCC and Local Health Boards emergency departments due to the need to admit the patients experiencing toxic side-effects with no viable alternative.

The development of the Immunotherapy service has allowed for a clear alternative to emergency/unscheduled admission by ensuring robust pathways are in place, 24/7 resilience and support of toxicities, increased patient and staff education in managing toxicities and rapid treatment and management of patients.

The Ambulatory Care provision has expanded working hours as well as supporting a weekend service to ensure more timely interventions for patients on a same day basis, enhancing care and clinical outcomes plus removing additional demand on Local Health Boards by preventing admission.

Since 2019 the Patient Support Unit has seen a 51% reduction for inpatient admissions for head and neck cancer with the average monthly bed days for patients reduced by 45%. Through service expansion it has been predicted that admissions and length of stay are likely to reduce by a further 10-15%. This will further decrease the burden on external services such as acute hospitals with an ever growing demand on the services.

The expansion has improved access to a skilled multidisciplinary team including specialist nurses, dieticians, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists who will all work together to ensure all patients are cared for through robust interventions with timely follow ups.

The model of delivery is innovative and forward thinking and endorsed by patients and staff alike. The joint MDT allows professionals to anticipate, ameliorate and treat complex and rapidly changing symptoms as an outpatient.

The services discussed are essential in reducing the burden on internal and external services whilst ensuring the patient has the best possible outcome. Through clear robust pathways and an upskilled workforce, the service will be sustainable for years to come whilst patients are dealt with in the best way possible in an Ambulatory manner.

The outcome is a sustainably funded, evidence-based patient-centred service offered in a day case setting, that anticipates and manages complex toxicities and challenging symptoms that develop at different points during the treatment pathway. With these side effects managed on an ambulatory basis, it prevents patients requiring prolonged inpatient admission, a wider benefit for our partners in Local Health Boards.