The content of this page is aimed at providing information and guidance on Acute Oncology Services (AOS) to healthcare professionals. Information for patients can be found HERE.
AOS Nurse Lead: Dr Rosie Roberts, Velindre NHS Trust
The All Wales AOS Group meets three times a year and aims to provide a strategic lead for National Acute Oncology priorities and a forum for the ratification of All Wales developments enabling a co-ordinated approach, for example in the development of AOS datasets, pathways, documents and support tools in order to ensure a standardised, cohesive acute oncology service for Wales. The All Wales AOS Group work to identify shared priorities including championing Wales AOS services and ensuring Welsh representation.
For further information on the All Wales AOS Group, click here to contact us.
All Wales Immunotherapy Toxicity Group
The All Wales Immunotherapy Toxicity Group has been established by the Wales Cancer Network as a subgroup of the All Wales Acute Oncology Service (AOS) Group and All Wales Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) Group. It aims to provide a strategic lead for immunotherapy toxicity priorities and a forum for the ratification of all Wales developments enabling a coordinated approach to service provision.
National IO Education Forum
The national immuno-oncology education forum is a multi-disciplinary meeting that was established by Helen Winter, Consultant from Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, and Ricky Frazer, Consultant at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. It has grown to more than 100 colleagues from across the whole of the UK that come together once a month to discuss immunotherapy related topics. Topics covered so far include recognising myasthenia gravis, management of colitis and review of national steroid guidelines. The National IO Education Forum is open to all healthcare professionals regardless of experience; the only requirement is an interest in immunotherapy and a desire to improve patient care. The meetings take place virtually via Microsoft Teams on the first Thursday of every month at 1pm regardless of the date it falls on and lasts no more than 1 hour. If you are interested in joining the National IO Education Forum, please contact Ricky and the team on VCCNational.IOEducationForum@wales.nhs.uk
The Service Specification of Acute Oncology Services (AOS) for the NHS in Wales has been developed in direct response to recommendations from the 2018 AOS Peer Review, and has been a collaborative effort involving specialists, associated services, and patients to establish unified care standards across local Health Boards and Velindre NHS Trust.
Aligned with the Welsh Government's 'Six Goals for Urgent Emergency Care,' this framework prioritises comprehensive care for cancer patients, focusing on treatment and supportive strategies. By emphasising eight core principles, it champions patient-centred care and decision making, aiming to minimise admissions, shorten hospital stays, minimise inequalities, and synchronize with broader NHS Wales improvement strategies.
The Cancer Network is grateful to the many patients and professionals across Wales who contributed to the development of the Service Specification, and look forward to working with Acute Oncology Services to support its implementation.
Service Specification of AOS for the NHS in Wales (English)
Manyleg Gwasanaeth ar gyfer AOS y GIG yng Nhymru (Cymraeg)
The Wales Cancer Network SACT and AOS Education Event was held virtually in June 2023.
Recordings of the event are available via the links below:
Breakout session: 'From Gene to Drug – How to use genomics in oncology.'
Breakout session: 'Opportunities that a national dataset brings.'
Breakout session: 'When to stop treatment - Advanced decision making.'
Educational Resources
Peer Review
Peer review is a collaborative quality improvement process, which allows for the evaluation of scientific, academic or professional work by others working in the same field.
It constitutes a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession, encouraging peers to share information, learn where their strengths and weaknesses lie and agree plans for improvements to patient care. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards of quality, improve performance, and provide credibility.
A national steering group within NHS Wales was involved in the development of the peer review measures which were designed to assess the quality and performance of acute oncology services (AOS), against the All Wales National Standards for Acute Oncology Services (June 2016). This is the first time that AOS have been reviewed in Wales. It was noted that the teams were at different stages of maturity and have developed differing models of service dependent on resource and geography.
The main focus of this review included:
All AOS services in Wales must take part in Peer Review and services will in future be measured against the All Wales National Standards for Acute Oncology Services
For further information about Peer Review, please CLICK HERE
AOS Dataset
The All Wales AOS Group coordinate and support a consistent approach to data collection and reporting across Wales. All AOS services must collect data in line with:
Quality Performance Indicators (QPI’s)
Alongside the implementation of the national AOS dataset, the All Wales AOS Group are working to identify Quality Performance Indicators (QPI’s) and a consistent approach to reporting on them.
All Health Boards / Trusts in Wales aim to begin capturing data in line with the agreed QPIs from the 1st November 2022 with a view to report this data to the All Wales AOS Group from the 1st April 2023 onwards. This will allow Health Boards to identify any issues with their current reporting processes / systems which can be taken to the national group for discussion and support.
For further information on the AOS Clinical Quality Performance Indicators, please contact WCN.WalesCancerNetwork@wales.nhs.uk
UK Acute Oncology Society (UKAOS)
The UK Acute Oncology Society (UKAOS) is an organisation involving a multi-disciplinary group of health professionals dedicated to the development and improvement of Acute Oncology services (AOS). UKAOS works in collaboration with National Health Departments and stakeholder groups to provide guidance and support for healthcare professionals working in acute oncology to ensure patient safety and wellbeing. UKAOS plays an important role in advancing the field of acute oncology in the United Kingdom.
For further information about UKAOS, please CLICK HERE.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
NICE offers evidence-based guidelines and advice for practitioners in health, public health and social care.
For further information on NICE guidance for Cancer, please CLICK HERE.
Genomics
The Wales Cancer Network has set up the All Wales Genomics Oncology Group (AWGOG) to facilitate a multidisciplinary and coordinated national approach to the development and implementation of oncology-specific genomic services provided by the All Wales Medical Genomics Service (AWMGS).
For further information about Genomics and AWGOG please CLICK HERE.
Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment (SACT)
The All Wales SACT Group has been established by the Wales Cancer Network. It aims to provide a strategic lead for national SACT priorities, enabling a coordinated approach for developments such as e-prescribing, SACT datasets, coordination and monitoring of horizon scanning of cancer drugs and accessibility on a once for Wales basis.
For further information about SACT and the All Wales SACT Group please CLICK HERE.
Malignancy of Unknown Origin / Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Cancer Site Group (MUO/CUP CSG)
The All Wales Malignancy of Unknown Origin (MUO) and Carcinoma of Unknown Primary (CUP) Cancer Site Group is a subgroup of the All Wales Acute Oncology Service (AOS) Group that has been established by the Wales Cancer Network (WCN). The group act as the voice of MUO and CUP services across Wales, providing a strategic and national lead for MUO / CUP priorities, and a forum for the ratification of All Wales developments, sharing best practice and developing protocols and policies, enabling a coordinated approach.
For further information about Cancer Site Groups please CLICK HERE
(Include information about MUO/CUP and link to MUO/CUP on CSG page when available).