Providing treatment for prostate cancer patients in their home

Patients being treated for prostate cancer at Derriford Hospital may soon be able to receive treatment in the comfort of their own home, under the care of fully qualified and experienced nurses, rather than having to come to hospital.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, in partnership with Healthcare at Home and pharmaceutical company, Janssen, has undertaken a pilot study with 37 patients, who are receiving oral hormonal therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, in their own home.

The study, which has been running for over 12 months, found that fewer hospital visits and receiving care in their home meant that patients found their treatment less stressful and more convenient, whilst improving their understanding and satisfaction with the service.

Dr Sarah Pascoe, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Derriford Hospital, said: “We are really pleased with the pilot and how well it has been received by our patients. We know that receiving treatment can be a very stressful for our patients, so anything we can do to help alleviate some of that stress is a very good thing. Being able to offer patients the opportunity to receive their treatment in the comfort of their own home, from trained nurses, supported by us, not only benefits the patients but helps us as an Oncology department as well.”

Prior to the study, patients were required to come to a hospital clinic to see Dr Pascoe every month for three months and then every eight weeks. A consultation usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes, the patients are then likely to wait between 15 and 30 minutes to pick up their medication. The total duration of their hospital visit can be up to three to four hours, excluding their travel time.

Dr Pascoe explains: “Patients who are eligible for this service, would receive a call from me at least once every eight weeks and would be visited by specialist nurses who carry out blood tests, check blood pressure and provide treatment, every two weeks for the first three months and then once a month thereafter.”

Receiving treatment at home, saves patients and their families up to eight return trips to the hospital clinic over a 12 month period and the associated costs, for example, fuel and parking.

Gerry from Plymouth has been receiving home treatment, to slow down the progression of his cancer. He said: “I have been receiving my treatment at home since last April. The nurses who come out are really caring and thorough. They call up the day before and arrange a time to visit. They check all of my vital functions to ensure that I am not reacting to the drug and stay for an hour or sometimes more.

“The benefits of having my treatment at home mean my vital statistics and wellbeing are checked and communicated to my Consultant. Dr Pascoe calls me and we can talk through my results. I will ask to go and see Dr Pascoe if I have more questions but there’s no point in me going up to the hospital and taking an appointment if I don’t need to and the Oncology department is not somewhere you want to sit around.

“I think it would be good for other departments too. Why drag people into hospital when an appointment can be done over the phone? This works extremely well.”

Dr Pascoe continued: “We are now working with Healthcare at Home and Janssen and hope to be able to offer it to all of our eligible prostate cancer patients later this year.”

Healthcare at Home Ltd is the UK’s largest home healthcare provider, caring for over 150,000 NHS and private patients each year throughout the UK.