New South West Radiotheraphy Late Effects Service transforms patient care for cancer survivors
We are proud to share The South West Radiotherapy Late Effects Services Evaluation Report.
Radiotherapy-related late effects pose a significant challenge for cancer survivors, often resulting in long-term physical and emotional difficulties that impact their quality of life. Due to a lack of specialist services locally, patients identified with radiotherapy late effects often must attend multiple GP and secondary care appointments to identify the cause of their symptoms. Some patients with severe symptoms will require attendance at specialist services significant distances from their homes.
The Southwest Radiotherapy Late Effects Services (SWRLES) were established in a partnership between The Southwest Radiotherapy Departments, led by the Heads of Radiotherapy Services, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Alliance. These services play a crucial role in improving health outcomes for cancer survivors by delivering specialised, local, person-centred care for managing radiotherapy-related complications.
“This is a real step forward in personalised cancer care. We’re so pleased to have worked with SWAG cancer alliance to fill this gap in support for people who are often struggling from life-changing effects caused by cancer treatment.” – Macmillan Cancer Support
Key outcomes of the evaluation
The independent evaluation provides compelling evidence of the service’s effectiveness, efficiency, and value:
- 88.2% of patients reported an improvement in quality of life
- 70% improvement in both function and symptoms
- 99% of patient feedback reported a positive impact from the service
It also showed significant reductions in:
- Outpatient appointments in oncology and breast surgery
- Unplanned hospital admissions across multiple specialties
- Emergency department attendances
The partnership was initially a two-year project to establish a network of support at four radiotherapy centres in the areas that made up the SWAG Cancer Alliance – Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in Taunton, Royal United Hospital in Bath, Cheltenham General Hospital, and Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre. The team also provides mentorship, developing further services at hospitals in Exeter, Torbay and Truro.
It’s the first project of this kind in the UK, where all the NHS trusts in a cancer alliance have worked with Macmillan to give patients across our region the same equity of care.
The award-winning Southwest team have effectively put Radiotherapy Late Effects on the map for best practice for the country and internationally and have identified the region as the blueprint for regional, collaborative working.
The evaluation report provides compelling evidence on the effectiveness, efficiency, and experience of the SWRLES to support future NHS planning and funding and inform individual Trusts planning for the long-term sustainable commissioning of radiotherapy late effects services.
The teams should be immensely proud of what they have achieved for our patients in such a short period of time.
