As some of you may know, the North Central London Cancer Alliance has been developing an online and PDF/paper tool for helping people through their cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow-on care.
Patient experience of cancer care differs across London. Research highlights patients feeling overwhelmed as well as experiencing anxiety and fear and has indicated what they would find useful at the different stages of the pathway.
One of our priorities is to improve patient experience. North Central London Cancer Alliance has worked closely and in collaboration with patients, carers and representative organisations to develop a tool that we feel will help alleviate some of the challenges, stress and uncertainty that individuals may face in north east London too.
The purpose of the tool is to:
- Provide information and support at the right time for patients during and after having tests or treatment for cancer
- Enable people to know where to get useful information and ask questions
- Enable people with cancer to have the information and confidence to make decisions about their treatment and care
- Improve signposting to emotional support
- Improve equitable access to information and support
We are at the point where we can share the tool - called ‘Your cancer pathway support guide’ - with you for feedback and testing. We believe it is engaging and easy to use and are therefore seeking your help to test the online version.
The online tool is to be used at whichever stage the individual is on the pathway e.g. I do not have cancer, I have another condition that is causing my symptoms.
There will be the option to print the guide (PDF version) - please do give feedback on either the online version or PDF version or both.
Each user will be given a unique URL code for their use. This allows you to use the notes section (to take note of conversations with clinicians, set reminders for yourself etc), close your browser window, and then go back into the site with your URL code with all your notes and data saved.
What we would like you to do:
- Please test on a desktop computer or mobile phone
- Access the tool via this link http://nhstool.wpengine.com/
- You can create your own URL code (see the instructions within the tool)
- Please go through each section, make and save notes as you wish
- Give feedback on both the online and PDF version or just one - online or PDF: complete our feedback form here: https://forms.gle/pFUFzzGigJcWcbdU9
Health professionals/individuals from wider organisations please complete from the patient's/carer's perspective.
We really value having your input and support in the development of this tool and look forward to being able to share the final version in the coming months.
Thank you again for your time and a huge thank you to all of those that have fed back and been part of the development process to date.
If you have any queries or would like some more information, please contact:
Gali Siegal, Health Inequalities Lead directly gali.siegal1@nhs.net