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Wessex Cancer Academy

Acute Oncology

Many of the learning outcomes addressed by these acute oncology learning opportunities, whether academic modules, webinars, or other resources, will provide the knowledge to help you achieve the ACCEND core capabilities in practice. You can reflect on your learning and the core capabilities through the GM ePortfolio. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Introduction to Acute Oncology

Free 15-part eLearning module providing an overview of Acute Oncology including an introduction, oncological emergencies, treatment and patient management.

MSCC – Red Flags and Supporting Diagnosis

The first module of the MSCC series focuses on identifying red flags and supports healthcare professionals involved in the detection of MSCC to improve diagnosis times.

MSCC – Triage and Treatment

MSCC Module 2 focuses on the triaging process and treatment options. This module offers guidance on initially managing suspected MSCC and who to contact following confirmed diagnosis and rehabilitation.

MSCC – Rehabilitation and Advanced Care Planning

The final module of the MSCC services, this third module offers guidance on rehabilitation and advanced care planning.

MSCC Lung Cancer Pathway

Streamlining and accelerating the new MSCC Lung Cancer pathway across Greater Manchester, East and Mid-Cheshire.

UKAOS Learning Hour

Held on the second Wednesday of the month alternating between lunchtime (12:30-13:30) and evening (18:30-19:30)

Acute Oncology Telephone Triage Education Day

Join us for a focused, hands-on session designed for call handlers who manage the line infrequently or outside routine hours. Spend the day boosting your confidence, sharpening key triage skills, and meeting others who do the same vital work from across the region.

Topics include:

  • UKONS triage tool V3
  • Documentation
  • Red flag symptoms
  • Netcall
  • SACT
  • Scenario workshop

Link: Acute Oncology Telephone Triage Education Day Tickets, Thu, 14 May 2026 at 09:00 | Eventbrite

Acute Oncology Passport

Interactive pdf copies of levels 2,3 and 4 can be accessed for free via the Ruddocks ordering portal. To view these options in addition to the printed versions, you need to create a user account.

You can then view the download options for Level 2, 3 and 4 and add to your basket. To check out, select Purchase Order number but enter your email where it asks for the number to be inputted.

If there’s an issue with the ordering portal people can contact Ruddocks directly ukons@ruddocks.co.uk.

On completion of the module, you will:

  • Understand the meaning of acute cancer care and the oncology emergency services
  • Be aware of common acute symptoms that patients may experience as a result of their cancer or its treatment
  • Identify some common patient presentations of symptoms with acute cancer or cancer treatment complications
  • Be able to recognise potential emergency symptoms and take appropriate action within your sphere of responsibility to ensure urgent care and optimal outcomes for people with cancer
  • Provide information, care, support, and signposting for people living with cancer within your sphere of responsibility

 

On completion of the passport, you will: 

  • Have an understanding of principles of acute oncology
  • Understand and recognise acute oncology patients and presentations
  • Gain an understanding of the importance of urgent intervention to get the best outcomes for patients with acute oncology problems
  • Gain an understanding of the local Acute Oncology Service provided and how and when to contact them
  • Understand the required urgent or emergency management is initiated
  • Ensure referral and communication with the Acute Oncology Service is completed as appropriate
  • Ensure appropriate ongoing management of the patient occurs

Who is it for?

The scope of this Level 2 competence passport includes the roles:

  • Paramedics and Ambulance Clinicians
    • General Practitioners
    • Acute Care Allied Healthcare Professionals
    • Registered healthcare professionals working in areas that accept, assess and/or admit acutely unwell patients
    • Oncology / Haematology Site-Specific Clinical Nurse Specialists
    • Hospice and Palliative Care Community Teams
    • Specialist Palliative Care Teams (or Level 3 if they have a regular, active participatory role in the provision of Acute Oncology Services)
    • All Junior Doctors in the hospital
    • All Specialist Registrars, Speciality Doctors, and Consultants in acute and emergency care areas
    • Hospital consultants other than oncologists and haematologists

The purpose of this Level 3 Acute Oncology Competence Assessment Passport is to assess the knowledge, skills and competence of registered health professionals that meet the criteria of Advanced (Level 3) practice described within the UKONS Acute Oncology Knowledge and Skills Framework (UKONS and Macmillan Cancer Support, 2018). This includes health professionals who have a regular, active, participatory role in the provision of acute oncology services (AOS) for the following patient groups:

  • Acutely unwell adult patients who present as an emergency and have a suspected new diagnosis of cancer
  • Acutely unwell adult patients who are currently receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT)* and/or radiotherapy
  • Acutely unwell adult patients who have a known cancer diagnosis and may be suffering from acute complications of cancer

On completion of the passport, you will:

  • Have a thorough understanding of the principles of acute oncology
  • Patients requiring acute oncology services are fully recognised
  • A comprehensive understanding of the scope of the AOS provided locally and regionally
  • Required urgent / emergency management is initiated, and appropriate ongoing management of the patient is continued
  • Referral and communication with the hospital’s AOS is completed as appropriate
  • Advanced clinical skills are utilised to prevent serious complications as early as possible; advanced management decisions can be made, and expert advice given as necessary on issues such as escalation and ceiling of care
  • Full understanding of urgent intervention to get the best outcomes for patients with acute oncology indications
  • Participation in the development of relevant protocols and pathways
  • Regular involvement in activities to improve service quality such as clinical audits, mortality and morbidity reviews, serious incident reviews and relevant research activity
  • Education, training, and assessment of competency of staff working at Level 1 and Level 2 of the UKONS Acute Oncology Knowledge and Skills Framework.

Who is it for?

Staff required to achieve Level 3 competences may include:

  • Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Acute Oncology Advanced Clinical Practitioners
  • All Specialist Registrars in oncology and haematology
  • Highly specialised AO health professionals
  • Members of the Specialist Palliative Care team, if they have a regular, active participatory role in the provision of AOS.

This document should be used as part of acute oncology training for the induction and awareness of all those involved in the recognition and management of patients with an acute oncology indication within AOS. The core learning outcomes are as described within the UKONS Acute Oncology Knowledge and Skills Framework (UKONS and Macmillan Cancer Support, 2024). Specific competences are described in more detail below to guide the structured learning through this Passport.

UK Acute Oncology Competence Assessment Passport for management and strategic leadership of acute oncology services at practice Level 4.  The purpose of this Level 4 Acute Oncology Competency Passport is to assess the knowledge, skills and competence of health professionals that meet the criteria of Expert (Level 4) practice described within the UKONS Acute Oncology Knowledge and Skills Guidance (UK Oncology Nursing Society and Macmillan Cancer Support, 2024).

This includes health professionals who have a regular, active, participatory role in the provision of acute oncology services (AOS) for the following patient groups:

  • Acutely unwell adult patients who present as an emergency and have a suspected new diagnosis of cancer
  • Acutely unwell adult patients who are currently receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT*) and/or radiotherapy
  • Acutely unwell adult patients who have a known cancer diagnosis and may be suffering from acute complications of cancer.

What do I need to Know?

The provision of care for these groups of patients is referred to as acute oncology and the primary aim of this competence document is to ensure:

  • There is an in-depth understanding of the principles of acute oncology
  • Acute oncology patients and presentations are fully recognised
  • The importance of urgent intervention to get the best outcomes for patients with acute oncology problems is fully understood
  • Required urgent / emergency management is initiated and appropriate ongoing management of the patient is continued
  • Referral and communication with the hospital Acute Oncology Service is completed as appropriate
  • Robust clinical leadership is provided to coordinate and supervise the appropriate ongoing management of the patient and advanced clinical skills are utilised to prevent or detect serious complications as early as possible, to make advanced management decisions; expert advice is given as necessary on issues such as treatment escalation and ceiling of care in close communication with the treating /parent team when this does exist
  • Robust clinical leadership is provided in the development of relevant protocols, peer review, service evaluation and patient pathways
  • Robust clinical leadership is provided for service quality improvement activities such as clinical audits, mortality and morbidity reviews, serious incident reviews, and relevant research activity
  • Patient and public involvement and engagement in service development, service review and evaluation, and relevant research activity • Education, training and assessment of competency is provided for training at all Levels of this framework, with details of these workforce groups outlined within the UKONS Knowledge and Skills Framework.

Who is it for?

  • Acute Oncology Nurse Consultants
  • Acute Oncology Advanced Clinical Practitioners
  • Acute Oncology Speciality Doctors
  • Oncologists/Haematologists
  • Palliative Care, Emergency or Acute Medicine Consultants, if they have a regular, active participatory role in the development, leadership, and provision of AOS
  • Service managers

You may also like to explore the following sections: Communication Skills, Personalised Care

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