Holistic Needs Assessment

A Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) is an assessment and discussion you may have with someone from your healthcare team. Together, you talk through your needs and concerns. You then agree on a plan for your care and support needs.

It is called holistic because you can discuss any needs or concerns you have about any area of your life. It is not only about the physical symptoms of cancer or the side effects of treatment.

These concerns can be:

Physical       Emotional      Practical         Financial      Spiritual

· It can help you identify the concerns that are most important to you.

· It can help your healthcare team understand what is important to you.

· You can be referred to other services if you need more help or support.

· You can find out about local support groups.

· It can help you plan ahead

Treatment Summaries

A Treatment summary is a document formulated from Somerset (SCR) Cancer register. Somerset cancer register is a database which stores all its cancer records. The treatment summary is a simple summary of a patient’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, and an ongoing management plan. The treatment summary (T/S) is completed on the SCR database, shared with the patient, and emailed to the GP

The Treatment Summary template was designed by the National Cancer Survivorship      Initiative (NCSI). It is a document produced by secondary cancer care professionals at the point of when a management plan is agreed, at the end of treatment, change of treatment or if the patient is for best supportive care. It provides important information for GPs, including possible treatment toxicities, information about side effects and/or consequences of treatment, medication, signs, and symptoms of a recurrence, follow up and any actions for the GP and informs a cancer care review.

The patient also receives a copy to improve understanding of their condition and to provide a summary to share with other professionals and those of their choice, e.g., for travel            insurance purposes.

Cancer Care Reviews

A Cancer Care Review (CCR) is a conversation between a patient and their GP or    Practice Nurse about their cancer journey. It is essential to personalised care and helps patients to:

· talk about their cancer experience and concerns

· understand what support is available in their community

· receive the information they need to begin supported self-management.

It is carried out within three months of a cancer diagnosis and covers post-treatment support, financial impact of cancer, patient awareness of prescription exemptions,      possible late effects of cancer and cancer treatment and information needs to enable self-management.