Developing Advanced Clinical and First Contact Practitioner Roles in Cancer Care

NHS England South East (NHSE formally HEE) funded the Wessex Cancer Alliance to undertake a project to scope and develop AHP First Contact Practitioners (FCP) and Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) roles in cancer care across Wessex.

This work commenced in June 2020, carried out by Mary Edwards and Bethan Gane. Following the scoping of this role the project has changed direction and is now looking at the development of multi-professional FCPs and ACPs in the primary care environment.

We drafted a Competence Framework for ACPs in Cancer Care working in a Primary care environment. This competence framework has been incorporated into the ACCEND framework. In September 2021 we conducted a workforce capability survey in the Wessex region to understand the ability of the local workforce to fulfil an ACP role in primary care. These findings have now been disseminated to help shape and influence education and training of the workforce at a local and national level.

In 2022 Wessex Cancer Alliance was successful in a bid to pilot and evaluate ACP in FCP roles in Primary Care. We currently have the following pilots and evaluations in progress:

• The evaluation of an advanced clinical practitioner 1.0 WTE at Shore Primary Care Network
• The pilot of a FCP physiotherapist 0.2 WTE at Shore Primary Care Network
• The Pilot of a Dietitian 0.2 WTE at Winchester Rural North and East Primary Care Network
• The Pilot of an Occupational Therapist 0.2 WTE at Poole Central Primary Care Network

We welcome hearing from stakeholders, professionals and the public to help shape and inform the development of these new innovative roles, and hold regular steering groups to help progress this work.

If you would like further information on this project, please contact:

Mary Edwards, Project Lead – mary.edwards@wca.uhs.nhs.uk
Kathryn Cooke, Workforce Program Manager – Kathy.cooke@wca.uhs.nhs.uk