Acute Oncology Service (AOS) : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Introduction

The Acute Oncology Service provides first-line care for people who are experiencing cancer-related emergencies. These could relate to a new diagnosis of cancer, or include complications from cancer or its treatment.

The Acute Oncology Service team does not replace your specialist team. They work with your specialist team to provide you with better and more seamless care.

Members of the AOS team

The team is made up of:

five consultant medical oncologists
two clinical nurse specialists (CNSs)
three specialty registrars in oncology (doctors training in a specialty area of oncology).

What is the role of the AOS team?

The AOS team will manage your care if you need to be admitted to University College London Hospitals (UCLH) with complications from cancer or from the treatment you have received. This could be chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or treatment you have received as part of a clinical trial.

They will also help to coordinate your care if you are admitted with a new or suspected cancer diagnosis. This is sometimes initially referred to as an MUO (Malignancy of Unknown Origin) or pCUP (provisional Cancer of Unknown Primary).

The CNSs will offer information, support and advice to you and your relatives or carers when you are undergoing initial tests. If a cancer diagnosis is confirmed, a specialist team will take over your care.

Aims of the Acute Oncology Service

To provide support and advice to staff on how to manage cancer-related emergencies and complications of cancer treatments.
To help improve the quality of care and coordinate tests/procedures needed to reduce time spent in hospital.
To help avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital.
To arrange appropriate referrals to other specialists.
To provide support and advice to GPs and other healthcare professionals looking after people with cancer in the community.
To coordinate the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic spinal cord compression. This may affect people who have a tumour in the bones of their spine or in the tissue surrounding the spinal cord. It can cause pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, and lead to pain, altered sensation and weakness. For more information, visit our web page ‘Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC)’.