Around 15% of acute hospital admissions may be for cancer or cancer-related conditions. In addition, 31% of cancers are diagnosed in the emergency setting in England.
Cancer treatment has progressed rapidly over recent years, and these changes have led to increased acute admissions for patients with complications of their cancer or of their cancer treatment. Most patients with cancer will require urgent care at some point.
Many patients with known and new cancer diagnoses are admitted to and cared for on acute medical units (AMUs). An increasing proportion of these patients can be managed appropriately through same-day emergency care (SDEC). Acute oncology services have also continued to develop over recent years.
This updated toolkit aims to support acute and general medical clinicians caring for patients with cancer who have been admitted to acute care. It outlines key presentations, pathways and complications in acute oncology. It provides service recommendations for acute hospitals and acute oncology services.
Financial support was provided as a Medical and Educational Goods and Service by Pfizer Limited. However, Pfizer have had no input or involvement in the design, development and content.