Project Name: Mid and South Essex Breast Cancer Service Redesign

Project Summary:

The Collaborative Working Project (“CWP”) aims to provide equity of access to NICE approved Systemic Anti-Cancer treatments (SACT) and maximise efficiency by optimising workforce capacity within the Breast oncology service through the service redesign. The implementation of a new care model will span the Mid-South Essex (MSE) trust to manage patients virtually who are established on appropriate SACT treatments within the national standard timeframes. This project will require additional clinical staff and pathways and be supported by the use of a digital platform. The digital platform will provide an online symptom monitoring system and remote patient interactions via ePROM’s (electronic Patient Reported Outcomes Measures) for selected stable patient populations.

The East of England Cancer Alliance, MSE Trust and Novartis will collaborate to develop the new breast cancer (BC) service. The new service will see the creation of the following roles for the clinical duration of 23 months, on a temporary basis with the intention to substantiate the roles through the development and submission of the Business Case as part of the milestone delivery.

The creation and set up of the new Digital Breast Cancer SACT service to include:

  • 2.0 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) Band 8a Prescribing Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP)
  • 1.0 WTE Band 4 (Digital) SACT Patient Pathway Navigator

Expected Benefits:

Anticipated Benefits for Patients

  • Named ACP co-ordinating BC care will improve patient experience of the BC service by coordinating the patients Cancer care appointments
  • More streamlined pathway to improve the patient experience and reduce hospital visits 
  • Increased access to equitable, consistent and standardised care.  
  • Increased access to education on BC and treatment to improve adherence and consequently patients’ outcomes, supported by a personalised care plan.  
  • Reduce patient waits in the clinic given extra capacity created by new workforce role.  
  • Reduced unplanned medical reviews and admissions. 

Anticipated Benefits for the NHS

  • Increase the overall quality of care and improve equity of access to specialist care for patients with BC requiring treatment initiation, evaluation and monitoring. 
  • Free up consultant capacity for clinical activities within the Breast Cancer Service that are unique to their skillset. 
  • Workforce efficiency and optimisation by removing administrative burden from clinical staff and coordinating patient care
  • Increased clinic efficiency by ensuring all up to date tests results are available at the right time
  • Provide a single point of contact for patients, thereby reducing the potential for unplanned calls being received by the wider clinical team
  • Reduce use of emergency triage line and unplanned admissions. 
  • CWP would highlight the EoE Care Alliance and MSE Trust as an exemplar in service re-design of workforce optimisation and sustainability

Anticipated Benefits for Novartis 

  • Better understanding of overall HCP and patient needs 
  • Optimal use of medicines in line with local/national guidance (including Novartis medicines) in appropriate patients. 
  • Ethical, professional, and transparent relationship between Novartis and the Healthcare Organisations 

Start Date & Duration: May 2025 for 32 months (including 23 months clinical activity)

FA-11398155 | April 2025