Improving the cancer journey for people in Orkney

With an estimated 800-900 people currently living with cancer in Orkney, it has never been more important to improve the journey they experience.

‘Improving the Cancer Journey’ project has been given the full support of members of the Orkney Integration Joint Board.

The project, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, as well as health and social care colleagues in Shetland and the Western Isles is to improve ‘non-clinical outcomes’ of people diagnosed with cancer.

This means addressing issues such as the need for support with mental health issues, helping to make lifestyle choices to aid survival and prevention of secondary occurrences, assistance with returning to and/or enabling independent living, help with employment, access to welfare benefits and-of-life and bereavement support.

A report brought before members of the IJB on Wednesday (15 December) highlighted the Scottish Government and Macmillan investment of £18 million in their Transforming Cancer Care initiative, a programme designed to deliver a holistic approach to improving the non-clinical outcomes of people in Scotland diagnosed with cancer.

Part of this has seen the Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ) model being used in 21 health and social care partnerships across Scotland.

Macmillan Cancer Support approached the Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles health and social care partnerships, seeking to implement the ICJ model. This will be a partnership arrangement between Macmillan and the three island health and social care partnerships, through the investment of £900,000 covering a three-year programme, getting underway in 2022.

Early next year, a project manager will be sought to undertake a scoping exercise in each island group, resulting in the production of a Cancer Impact Assessment for the Orkney Partnership Board, and a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Cancer for the IJB.

Later in the year two link workers will be appointed in each island group, responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of non-clinical services for people diagnosed with cancer.

Chief Officer/Executive Director Orkney Health and Care, Stephen Brown, said: “Around 110 people are diagnosed with cancer annually in Orkney. In addition, the incidence of cancer is also anticipated to increase by 33% over the next 5-10 years. With more people now surviving a cancer diagnosis, and a current prevalence of 3-4% of the population living with cancer, it would be safe to assume that around 800-900 people are currently living with cancer in Orkney. This does not count, of course, the carers providing support.

“The project aims to provide holistic care solutions by delivering joined-up, multiagency working, combining expertise to ensure everyone diagnosed with cancer can easily access all the support they need, as soon as they need it, enabling them to live as well and as independently as possible.

“In addition, there will be scope to consider the learning from the work, as well as its transferability to other long-term health conditions, supporting the longer-term sustainability of the work.”

While it is projected that one in two people will get cancer in their lifetime, it is also reported that one in two people are also now surviving cancer.

“Returning to normality for those affected by cancer is fraught with difficulties, as the consequences of the disease and treatment pathways not only impact their physical condition, but also their psychological, financial and social wellbeing.”

IJB Chair Issy Grieve said: “This is a really welcome project and while we appreciate it is very much in the early days, we look forward to further updates. You have the full support of the board.”