Suspected cancer

GPs may refer patients to The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust if they think they have a chance of cancer. This is called an urgent suspected cancer referral.

The trust will then support patients on a suspected cancer pathway. These pathways make sure patients get tests and are seen by specialists quickly.
Suspected cancer referral pathway: patient information leaflet (PDF) helps explain what to expect.

Please do not delay your first appointment. It is important you are seen quickly.

Staff involved in cancer care

A Clinical Nurse Specialist will support patients diagnosed with cancer. They can give expert advice on a specific cancer. Patients will also get support from Cancer Navigators, who will help patients through their pathway.

Patient's care overseen by multi-disciplinary team (MDT). This includes Doctors, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Radiologists, and Pathologists. Patients may be referred to other hospitals for more advice or treatment.

The Associated Services' list on the right has links to each specialty.

Oncology

For information about Radiotherapy, Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy please visit the Oncology Service page for cancer treatments.

Macmillan Integrated Therapy Service

Cancer patients may be referred by their team to the Macmillan Integrated Therapy Service (MITS). The service is made up of speech and language therapy, dieticians, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. Your clinical team will tell you about the referral.

Cancer support services

Macmillan information and Support Centres

There is a Macmillan Information and Support Centre at both hospitals. Each centre has trained staff and volunteers who can offer a listening ear and advice. The centre are quiet and calm spaces, with helpful information to support people affected by cancer and those living with cancer.

Personalised care and events

Personalised care means care based on what matters to the patient. If you receive a cancer diagnosis, you will be offered a Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA). This will be a talk about concerns you may have and support you can get.

There is a Personalised Care team in the hospital. They run Living Well sessions which happen across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. These sessions are a supportive space to get advice and meet other people in similar circumstances.

Clinical teams may also run support sessions for their patients.

Cancer Information, Support and Wellbeing App

The Cancer Information, Support and Wellbeing App has details on services and hospital teams. It also has up-to-date information on community support and a calendar of events. The Personalised Care team run the app.

Lingen Davies - wellbeing programme

Lingen Davies is a charity that works with the hospital to support cancer services. They run a wellbeing programme with many events and activities. These happen across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin , and Mid Wales. There are some activities for carers as well.

Counselling for cancer patients

The Hamar Centre has a counselling service for adult cancer patients. This is at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. You can refer yourself or a health professional can refer you.

Powys patients

The Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys programme provides support for patients living in Powys. They organise lots of help including practical issues, returning to work and money worries. They can also offer Holistic Needs Assessments (HNSs.)

More information and advice about cancer

Macmillan Cancer Support is a national charity which helps people living with cancer. Macmillan leaflets can be found in the Macmillan Information and Support Centre. There is also a lot of information and advice on the Macmillan website.

Cancer Research UK is a national charity which funds science to improve cancer treatments. They have information on cancer and the different symptoms it causes.

The NHS website also has information on cancer.

More information about cancer services

The Cancer Services department

The Cancer Services department are a non-clinical team. The team track patients based on the National Cancer Waiting Times Guidance. They also coordinate the weekly MDT meetings. To contact the department, ring 01743 261000 ext 2647.

Cancer leadership

Cancer Services in the trust are overseen by:

Imogen Darbhanga, Head of Cancer Services
Siwan Owen, Lead Cancer Nurse
Dr Andrew Cowley, Lead Cancer Clinician

National Cancer Patient Experience Survey

The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey runs every year. If a patient has inpatient cancer treatment between April and June, they will be sent the survey between November and February. This includes patients receiving chemotherapy in day units.

Please do take part if you get the survey. It provides important information for the trust. If you do not want to get the survey, tell your care team.