Multi-disciplinary Team Gynaecology Oncology Leaflet

UHB is a no smoking Trust What is the gynaecology-oncology multi- disciplinary team (MDT)?

The team is a well-established group of experts with a specialist role in the diagnosis, treatment and management of women with gynecological cancers. The team consists of specialist gynae-oncology surgeons, gynecologists with special interest in oncology, oncologists, radiologists, histopathologists, clinical nurse specialists and MDT coordinators.

Our main function is the clinical management of your care and we work together with the wider care team to provide a package of care that is appropriate for you.

The team meets every Tuesday to discuss, in confidence, newly referred patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of a gynecological cancer. The MDT meetings offer a forum for the team members to plan and aim to come to a collective decision about the best way to proceed with your treatment. In some cases we refer to a specialist MDT at City Hospital. If this is the case for you, we will advise you during an appointment or telephone consultation.

This approach ensures that all necessary investigations are carried out as quickly as possible and the best available treatment is offered. Treatment options are then discussed with the patient and your family at a subsequent appointment, with your consultant or clinical nurse specialist. This may be face to face or via telephone consultation. Members of the MDT

• MDT co-ordinator: This is an essential member of the team that ensures that all your investigations and results are available for the MDT and arranges the meetings, and makes sure decisions made within the meetings are clearly documented • Consultant gynaecologist surgeon: This surgeon is able to assess

2 | PI20_2235_01 Multi-disciplinary Team Gynaecology Oncology Leaflet and treat some gynaecological cancers. The surgeon will discuss your condition with you and the different treatment options. It may be necessary for your treatment to be performed by a specialist cancer surgeon • Consultant gynaecologist oncologist surgeon: As part of your cancer treatment you may require surgery. The surgeon specialises in surgery that can remove gynaecology cancers • Consultant clinical oncologist: This doctor specialises in treating patients with radiotherapy. This treatment may be either following surgery or the only form of treatment required • Consultant medical oncologist: this doctor specialises in chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. This may be either following or before surgery • Consultant radiologist: This doctor specialises and determines the precise location and extent of a cancer in the body using scans from machines such as x-rays, computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonate imaging (MRI) scanners • Consultant histopathologists: This doctor specialises in examine cells/tissues under a microscope to diagnose disease and to confirm the diagnosis a microscope to make of cancer • Nurse practitioner: This is a registered nurse, who has received specialist training, and performs gynaecological procedures. • Clinical nurse specialist: These are registered nurses. Known as your key worker, these nurses are specialists in gynea-oncology. Their main role is to help women and their families to understand and cope with a suspected, new or recurrent diagnosis of gynaecological cancer. Being invested for a possible cancer or having a confirmed cancer can lead to feelings of shock, fear and bewilderment. A diagnosis may often come with a great deal of new information. It can be difficult to take it all in and remember everything you are told at your hospital visit or telephone consultation. For this reason, your key worker will act as your point of contact and will provide written and verbal information, advice and support during your journey. This could be on the wards, in clinic, or via telephone when you are at home

PI20_2235_01 Multi-disciplinary Team Gynaecology Oncology Leaflet | 3 How do I contact the gyneacology specialist nurses (CNS) ?

The CNS working hours are Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:00. There is always an answering machine to leave your message. Your call will receive a response, although this may not always be on the same day as your call.

If you need help or advice at other times, you can contact • GP • A&E • NHS 111 If you are currently receiving treatment and have a medical emergency out of hours and need to speak to someone, please contact your GP out of hours service, or go to your local A&E. Your clinical nurse specialist will work with you in a number of ways. They will:

• Be your central point of contact • Assess your needs and ensure you receive the care you need and that you are involved as in decision about your care as much as possible • Ensure that you are referred to and receive different services as needed • Be able to support you with advise on gynaecological cancers Please contact your clinical nurse specialist for:

• Emotional / psychological support • Treatment options • Advice on finical support • Symptom control / management • Information on support groups • Appointments

4 | PI20_2235_01 Multi-disciplinary Team Gynaecology Oncology Leaflet • Any other queries Holistic needs assessment (HNA)

We know that having investigations, treatments and a cancer diagnosis can affect your quality of life in different ways.

Holistic needs assessment will involve questions relating to your general wellbeing, social situation and support network.

It will also help us identify any particular issues or concerns you may have, to ensure we are offering you the most appropriate care plan and support.

PI20_2235_01 Multi-disciplinary Team Gynaecology Oncology Leaflet | 5 Useful numbers

Gynaecology specialist nurse: 0121 424 7788 or 0121 424 2723

Hospital switch board: 0121 424 2000

We hold two bleeps which can be contacted through switch board: Bleep 8223 or 2156

Ward: Good Hope Hospital (GHH) Ward 2 – 0121 424 7202

Clinics and chemotherapy units: Good Hope Oncology Clinic 0121 424 9460 Heartlands Clinic Ward 19 0121 424 3480 Good Hope Chemo unit 0121 424 9532 Heartlands Ward 19 Day Unit 0121 424 3481 Gynaecology Assessment Unit GHH 0121 424 7747

Secretaries: Miss Singh 0121 424 507 / 5437 Dr Fernando 0121 424 2165 Mr Balega 0121 507 4553 Dr Allos 0121 424 7456 Mr Kumar 0121 424 7240 Mr Chandock 0121 424 0728 Miss Kalkat 0121 424 9607 Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) 0121 424 0808 Other useful sources of information and contacts: http://www.cancerresearch.org/ 0300 123 1022 www.macmillan.org.uk 0808 808 0000 www.ovacome.org.uk 0800 008 7054 www.jostrust.org.uk 0808 802 8000

6 | PI20_2235_01 Multi-disciplinary Team Gynaecology Oncology Leaflet Gynaecology-oncology lead • Mr. Kumar

Specialist consultant oncologists • Miss K Singh • Mr. J Balega

Consultant gynaecologists • Mr. A Chandock • Mr. M Kumar • Miss R Kalkat • Miss E Bakali

Consultant clinical oncologists • Dr I Fernando • Dr B Allos

MDT Co-coordinator • A Oley

Consultant histopathologists • Dr N Dalal • Dr B Tanchel

Consultant radiologists • Dr S Cooper • Dr M Carrillo • Dr P Parekh

Clinical nurse specialists • CNS J Smith • CNS V Brookes • CNS R Henman • CNS L Wilson

PI20_2235_01 Multi-disciplinary Team Gynaecology Oncology Leaflet | 7 Heartlands Hospital Bordesley Green East B9 5SS

Good Hope Hospital Rectory Road B75 7RR

Solihull Hospital Lode Lane Solihull B91 2JL

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University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

PI20/2235/01 Author: Louise Wilson Date: September 2020 Review date: September 2022