PATIENTS recovering from cancer in the region should not have to visit hospital as much as in the past following the roll-out of a new 'at home' programme.

The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust which was formed in April following the merger of Basildon & Thurrock, Broomfield (Chelmsford) and Southend Hospitals Trusts, has commissioned a web portal that will allow patients to benefit from "personalised care packages" after they have been treated for breast, colorectal or prostate cancer.

This will mean fewer hospital visits as they will now be able to keep in touch with their clinicians from their homes. The Trust says they will have access to all the support, clinical advice and educational resources they need through an app or the portal.

Michael Catling, the Trust's director for cancer, said: "We want to improve the quality and impact of the care and support provided to patients living with – and beyond – cancer.

"These personalised care packages and the technology that will support them will mean patients are better informed about their disease, their treatment and the long-term effects of the cancer and their medication.

"Self-management services are tailored to individual needs and therefore help people return to living healthy and full lives as swiftly as possible."

Low risk

Clinicians will be able to track patients against their agreed care plan and retrieve and study their test results.

Remote personalised self-management and support is particularly appropriate for patients recovering from cancer who are at low risk of a relapse.

The technology will initially be available to patients treated for three common types of cancer from the summer. It will be extended to other groups later.

The personalised care package available from the web portal will provide:

• A comprehensive plan for the patient's longer term care and support after their treatment has ended and treatment summaries
• A cancer care review
• Good regular communication with clinicians so any risks can be identified early
• Health and wellbeing information and support.

Dr Deepak Kumar, a Macmillan GP, said: "From a clinical point of view, patient centred innovations such as this are fantastic. It empowers patients and enables us to all work together in a much more personalised way. We are all looking forward to seeing how this particular project develops."

The Trust recently signed a contract with a company called THERAPYAUDIT to provide the digital platform. It will be used by both GPs and hospital clinicians – ensuring everyone is contacted at appropriate times about any checks.

Chris Wright, an IT consultant, founder and CEO of THERAPYAUDIT says: "We are pleased to be partnering with the Trust by supplying technology that can help the Trust transform the care of patients recovering from cancer. It demonstrates how technology providers can work with committed clinicians to improve healthcare and give patients more control over their own recovery."

The East of England Cancer Alliance Transformation Programme has provided £180,000 in funding to support the new model of care and the technology that underpins it.