Approval Date:
Review Date:
Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015
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Na m
VERSION CONTROL
THIS IS A CONTROLLED DOCUMENT - PLEASE ARCHIVE ALL PREVIOUS VERSIONS ON RECEIPT OF THE CURRENT VERSION.
Please check the website for the latest version available: www.swscn.org.uk
VERSION
0.1 v2
0.1 v3
DATE ISSUED
June 2015
October 2015
SUMMARY OF CHANGE
2 nd draft
Outcome of NSSG Mtng
OWNER
PCN Head & Neck SSG
PCN Head & Neck SSG
Agreement cover sheet
This constitution of the Peninsula Cancer Network Head and Neck Group has been prepared by:
Andrew McLennan – Chair of the Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck SSG, Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial
Surgeon, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Liz Boylan – Peninsula Cancer Network SSG Manager
This constitution has been agreed by:
Position Organisation Date agreed
David Courtney
Steven Adcock
David Cunliffe
Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon
Consultant Surgeon
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Petra Jankowska Consultant Medical Oncologist
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015
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1. Statement of Purpose ................................................................................................................................................. 4
2. Terms of Reference for the Group
14-1C-101i .......................................................................................................... 4
3. Structure and Function ............................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Role and Function of the Group ........................................................................................................................ 5
3.2 Network Configuration of MDTs 14-1C-101i .................................................................................................... 5
3.3 Named Designated Hospitals for Head and Neck Cancer 14-1C-102i, 14-1C-103i .......................................... 6
3.4 Local Support Teams ......................................................................................................................................... 7
3.5 Network Group Membership 14-1C-104i ........................................................................................................ 8
3.6 Network Group Meetings 14-1C-105i .............................................................................................................. 11
3.7 Work Programme and Annual Report 14-1C-106i .......................................................................................... 11
3.8 Named Surgeons Authorised to Perform Lymph Node Resections 14-1C-107i............................................. 12
4. Coordination of Care/Patient Pathway ................................................................................................................. 12
4.1 Clinical Guidelines – UAT Cancer 14-1C-108i ................................................................................................. 12
4.2 Clinical Guidelines – Thyroid Cancer 14-1C-109i ........................................................................................... 12
4.3 Chemotherapy Treatment Algorithms 14-1C-110i .......................................................................................... 13
4.4 Patient Pathways – UAT Cancer 14-1C-111i ................................................................................................... 13
4.5 Network Referral Proforma 14-1C-113i ......................................................................................................... 13
5. Patient Experience 14-1C-114i ............................................................................................................................... 13
6. Clinical Outcomes/Indicators
................................................................................................................................. 13
6.1 Clinical Outcomes Indicators and Audits ........................................................................................................ 13
6.2 Discussion of Clinical Trials 14-1C-116i .......................................................................................................... 13
6.3 Network Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................ 13
7. Data Collection .......................................................................................................................................................... 14
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015

The Peninsula Cancer Network exists to secure equal access to high quality care for all cancer patients; strive for better clinical outcomes and improve the experience of patients, their carers and families throughout screening, diagnosis, treatment, aftercare and survival.
The Network has an increasing role in the prevention of cancer and reducing health inequalities. To achieve these goals it collaborates with all healthcare providers, commissioners, patients and their carers throughout Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The Peninsula Cancer Network serves a population of approximately 2.2 million people and is comprised of the following organisations:
Clinical Commissioning Groups
Northern, Eastern & Western Devon CCG
South Devon & Torbay CCG
NHS Kernow CCG
Somerset CCG
Acute Hospitals
Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Yeovil District Hospital NHS Trust
Hospices
Hospiscare, Exeter
Mount Edgcumbe Hospice, Cornwall
North Devon Hospice
Rowcroft Hospice, Torquay
St Julia’s Hospice, Cornwall
St Luke’s Hospice, Plymouth
St Margaret’s Hospice, Yeovil
The following document outlines the constitution, roles and responsibilities of the Group.
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In response to the publication of the Manual for Cancer Services (2004) a number of clinical sub-groups were established to address services for specific types of cancer.
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015

Network Site Specific Groups have collective responsibility for the coordination and consistency across the
Network for cancer policy, practice guidelines, audit, research and service improvement for each type of cancer.
Network site specific groups are multidisciplinary with representation from professionals across the patient care pathway as well as involvement and representation from patient and their carers.
Network Site Specific Groups have been established to:

Act as the Network Executive Board’s primary source of tumour site specific clinical opinion for the network;

Advise and consult on service planning to ensure services are in line with national guidance in order to promote high quality care and reduce inequalities in service delivery;


Ensure Network decisions become integrated into local practice;
Monitor progress on meeting National Cancer Standards and ensure action plans agreed following
Peer Review are implemented;

Promote links between teams and other relevant Network Groups.
The key objectives of Network Site Specific Groups will be to:

Establish common referral and clinical guidelines for the Network;

Agree a tumour site specific minimum data set and support consistent data collection across the
Network;

Engage in service improvement by using appropriate redesign tools and techniques via process mapping, capacity and demand measurement and redesign;

Agree and support an annual audit programme both at regional and local level;

Agree a common approach to research & development working with the Network Research Team, participating in nationally recognised studies whenever possible;

Consult with cross-cutting groups on issues involving chemotherapy, cancer imaging, histopathology, laboratory investigation and specialist palliative care;

Identify emerging new cancer drug treatments and technologies which require appraisal by commissioners through the Peninsula Health Technology Appraisal process;

Support the development of education and training programmes for teams;

Support effective patient and carer involvement in service planning and delivery;

Produce an annual work plan.
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The Head and Neck Group is the Upper Airway Tract cancer group for the Network. The Network has a separate Thyroid cancer group. For information regarding Thyroid Cancer Care in the Peninsula please go to the Thyroid NSSG page on CQUINS on: http://www.swscn.org.uk/networks/cancer/site-specificgroups/
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015

Currently head and neck cancers from North Devon are sent for surgery to the Royal Devon and Exeter
Hospital, and major head and neck cases from South Devon are operated on by Torbay surgeons at the
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Patients from Taunton are generally operated on in Exeter although some agreed surgery is undertaken in Taunton, in particular where this avoids cancer wait time breaches.
Skull base patients are referred to either Plymouth or outside of the Peninsula Cancer Network. At the moment some patients from Cornwall are operated on in Plymouth Derriford Hospital. Derriford Hospital surgeons operate on and fully treat all patients from the Plymouth health care community.
The National Cancer Action Team has agreed to two centres for Devon and Cornwall.
The team in the East has agreed referral criteria for those cases which travel to the RD&E for their surgery.
Torbay patients have been treated at Exeter since April 2008, in accordance with the implementation plan agreed in 2007. Taunton patients requiring microvascular surgery and major reconstruction have also been operated on jointly by the Exeter and Taunton surgeons since 2004.
In the West there is agreement regarding transfer of cases between Derriford and Cornwall with microvascular surgery and skull base surgery being carried out in Derriford and Photodynamic Therapy carried out in Cornwall.
Diagnosis and Assessment MDT
Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (no MDT at NDDH - pathway of care agreed with RD & E)
MDT dealing with any of the following:
Salivary Gland, Skull base,Thyroid,Thyroid and
Endocrine (state which)
All patients are discussed at RD&E MDT via video
Conferencing. Deals with all
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust Weekly MDT which deals with all
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Weekly MDT patients for major surgery discussed with
PHNT
Weekly MDT to discuss RD&E, North Devon and
South Devon patients via video link. Deals with all
All patients are discussed at RD&E MDT via video conferencing
All patients discussed at weekly Peninsula MDT, via video link
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The diagnosis and assessment of patients with head, neck and thyroid symptoms takes place only within designated hospitals fulfilling the following criteria:

They have the specialist facilities for investigation of head and neck patients;

They have contracted direct patient care sessions with at least two designated clinicians for head and neck diagnosis and assessment;

They are the only hospitals for which there are contact points specified in the primary care referral guidelines for head and neck cancer;

Most thyroid cancers are treated within local hospitals however more complex cases are discussed at network level where clinical complexity requires other specialty services such as cardiovascular or neuro-spinal.
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015

The local support teams for the Peninsula Cancer Network are the Acute Trust MDTs for Head and Neck
Cancer including Thyroid.
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Diagnosis and
Assessment
Neck Lump Clinic Curative Surgical
Centre
Locality
Population
Referring CCG
Healthcare NHS
Trust
No Head and
Neck Ward
Neck lumps go to RD&E,
Head and Neck Clinic at
North Devon with
Consultant from RD&E.
Separate Thyroid Clinic
Royal Devon
& Exeter NHS
Foundation
Trust
164,997 NHS NEW Devon
CCG
Northern Locality
Eastern Locality
Plymouth Hospitals
NHS Trust
H&N Ward:
Yes with separate
Thyroid Clinic
Hospitals NHS
Trust
H& N Neck Ward
Yes, joint Head & Neck and
Thyroid Clinic
Plymouth
Hospitals NHS
Trust
Royal
Cornwall
Hospitals NHS
Trust
349,481
534,503
NHS NEW Devon
CCG
Western Locality
NHS Kernow
CCG
Royal Devon &
Exeter NHS
Foundation Trust
H&N Neck
Ward: Otter
Separate Head and Neck
Clinic including neck lumps.
Separate Thyroid Clinic
Royal Devon
& Exeter NHS
Foundation
Trust
383,040 NHS NEW Devon
CCG
Eastern Locality
South Devon
Healthcare NHS
Foundation Trust
H&N Ward:
Forrest
Taunton and
Somerset
NHS Foundation
Trust
Head and Neck
Ward:
Blake
Head & Neck, neck lump and
Thyroid Clinics
Weekly H&N and neck lump
Clinics
South Devon
Healthcare NHS
Foundation
Trust
Royal Devon
& Exeter NHS
Foundation
Trust
286,000
544,000
NHS South Devon
& Torbay CCG
NHS Somerset
CCG
Total 2,262,021
The NSSG agree that the local support team is the Acute Trust MDT who alongside the CNS also manage the aftercare and Rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients by:

Working according to protocols agreed by the MDT’s regarding which parts of the care pathway are delivered in locality settings

Manage the aftercare and rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients within the relevant locality

Work closely with other teams who may have contact with Head and Neck patients on their cancer journey

Take responsibility for co-ordinating the provision from relevant local services for each individual.
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015

Responsibilities
The Acute Trust MDT Provider should provide a written rehabilitation plan that is agreed prior to discharge. This must include ensuring patients and carers are aware of how to manage their on-going care, including communication and feeding, information about oral rehabilitation/ restorative dentistry services and altered airway management.
As required, there should be links with the patient’s local Primary and Secondary Care Teams to ensure the patient has adequate local care provided once discharged.
The Acute Trust MDT Provider should detail how they have integrated the Local Support Team with the relevant membership, as outlined in the IOG and detailed below.
Local Support Team Members may include:

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Speech and Language Therapist (SLT)

Dietician

Senior Nurse with relevant experience (as outlined in IOG)

Dental Hygienist

Psychology/ Psychological Support

Local patients providing ‘buddy’ support

Physiotherapist

Occupational Therapist

Social Worker
The Acute Trust MDT Provider should outline how patients across the network will be able to access the
Local Support Team members and the services they provide; this could be expanded to include services which provide support with smoking cessation and alcohol dependency. It must be clear how this team will operate across the network geography, with teams in different Trusts and at different locations offering their guidance and advice based on their specialist skills and experience of working with Head and
Neck Cancer patients. This Acute Trust MDT should provide on-going support and act as a link on behalf of patients between the MDT, Primary Care and other support services.
Support must be available for patients for as long as required, whilst demonstrating that this contact has a benefit to the patient. The Provider should make clear how this work will be evaluated to ensure it meeting both needs of patients and deemed clinically effective.
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Membership of the Group will be multi-disciplinary in nature with representation from professionals across the care pathway. All core and extended members of the relevant Acute Trust MDT(s) are invited to participate in group activities via group meetings, working parties and email communications as appropriate.
The Chair of the Group will be elected from within the membership of the Group. The term of office will be for three years.
The Group will work towards developing patient and carer involvement in to the Group. Patient and carer representatives will be appointed whenever possible.
A cancer research sub specialty lead will be identified from within the membership of the group and
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015

assume responsibility for recruitment to trials.
Patient engagement within the Network Site Specific Groups is a requirement of the Peer Review process.
It is recommended that at least two user representatives sit on each group, however if this is not possible then it is necessary to ensure that there is an agreed mechanism by which user representative advice can be shared. Within the Peninsula Cancer Network this role is undertaken by the Patient Champion who is usually a Clinical Nurse Specialist within the group. This person will have specific responsibility for patient issues and providing information to assist in the integration of patient issues into the work of the group.
Named Membership of the Group
Group Members
Group Chairperson
Andrew McLennan Consultant Oral & Maxillo-Facial Surgeon RD&E/NDHT
Group Service Improvement Lead
Julie Hewett
Group Trial Recruitment Clinical Lead
David Hwang
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Consultant Oncologist
SDHT
NDHT/RD&E
Patient Champion & Information Lead
Joanne Greedy
Joanna Dauncy
Patient and Carer Representatives
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Nurse Specialist
North Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
Andrew Husband
Charlotte Overney
Claire Barber
Lead Clinician
Lead Nurse for Cancer Services
Claire Hakin
David Hwang
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Speech & Language Therapist
Consultant Oncologist
Emily Cruwys Advanced Specialist Dietician
Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust - Blake Ward
Graham Merrick
Andrew Baker
Andrew Drysdale
Ed Chisholm
Matthew Jerreat
Joanne Greedy
Joanna Dauncey
Petra Jankowska
Karen Dockings
Lynsey Clode
John Hunter
Gervaise Khan-Davis
Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon
Consultant ENT Surgeon
Consultant ENT Surgeon
Consultant Restorative Dentist
Specialist Cancer Nurse
Senior Cancer Staff Nurse
Consultant Medical Oncologist
Speech & Language Therapist
Macmillan Dietitian
Consultant Radiologist
Directorate Manager
TST
TST
RD&E/NDHT
RD&E/NDHT
RD&E/NDHT
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust - Otter Ward
Andrew Husband
Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015
Lead Clinician RD&E/NDHT
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Andrew McLennan
Andrew Brightwell
John Bowden
Richard Garth
Katerina Anesti
Chris Wallace
Jim Gilbert
Rebecca Baines
Tina Grose
Claire Barber
Zoe Copp
Susan Downer
Lorraine Beddard
Dawn Edwards
Joy Higgs
Andrew Goodman
David Hwang
Chris Hamilton
Guy Mizon
Paul Farrand
Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Consultant Otolaryngologist
Consultant
Consultant Surgeon
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Consultant in Palliative Care
Consultant in Palliative Care
Lead Cancer Nurse
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Nurse Specialist Head & Neck
Cancer Nurse Specialist
TYA Clinical Liaison Nurse
Research Nurse
Staff Nurse
Consultant Oncologist
Consultant Oncologist
Consultant Oncologist
Clinical Psychologist
Clinical Psychologist
Nicola Harding
Stefania Antonucci
Claire Higgins
Marianna Bos-Clark
Marie-Claire Oliver
Ros Wade
Simon Harries
Richard Thomas
Patrick Rogers
Sally Bell
Head of Speech & Language Therapy
Speech & Language Therapist
Speech & Language Therapist
Speech & Language Therapist
Dietitian
Head of Physiotherapy
Consultant Radiologist
Consultant Radiologist
Consultant Radiologist
Senior Radiographer
Alan Betts Radiographer
South Devon NHS Foundation Trust - Forrest Ward
David Cunliffe
Daphne Carpenter
Ruth Carr
Catherine Drysdale
Julie Hewett
Deborah Howland
Fahida Rehman-Manby
Richard Perriss
Philip Reece
Simon Hickey
Jayne Newell
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Macmilllan Speech Therapist
Clinical Oncology Consultant
Consultant – Restorative Dentist
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Dietitian
Clinical Nurse Specialist – Head & Neck
Consultant
Consultant
Clinical Director / ENT Surgeon
MTO
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Wing Commander Andrew Hope
Tass Malik
David Courtney
Paul McArdle
Steph Murgatroyd
Julia Pockett
Sue Ramsay
Consultant ENT Surgeon
Consultant ENT Surgeon
Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon
Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Speech & Language Therapist
Macmillan H&N Oncology Specialist Dietician
RD&E/NDHT
RD&E/NDHT
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015

Geoff Cogill
Amy Roy
Tim Bracey
Abdul Gafoor
Rob Lavis
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Consultant Oncologist
Consultant Oncologist
Consultant Histopathologist
Consultant Radiologist
Consultant Radiologist
Stephen Adcock
Phil Flanagan
Zarina Shaikh
Thaung Naing
Evette Grobbelaar
Venkat Reddy
Adam Wilde
Rashid Mamun
Kel Anyanwu
Jacqui Williams
Karen Yelland
Vanessa Hitchman
Matthew Collinson
Rob Jenkins
Hugh Jones
Philip Cook
Nick Hollings
Benjamin Rock
Thomas Sulkin
Sumaira Ilyas
Sharleen Olley
Emma Mitchell
Susan Ogilvie
Jane Mitchell
Consultant Surgeon (MDT Lead)
Consultant ENT Surgeon
Consultant
Specialty Doctor
Surgeon
Surgeon
Consultant ENT surgeon to be added
Specialty Registrar
Staff Grade Surgeon
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Nurse
Oncologist
Histopathologist
Histopathologist
Radiologist
Radiologist
Radiologist
Radiologist
Radiology Registrar
Senior Paediatric Hearing Screener
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Specialist Oncology Dietician
Speech & Language Therapist
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Meetings will be held at least twice per annum. The group agrees to operate under the Terms of Reference
(Appendix 1). All members will be informed of meeting dates and location and be included in distribution of the Agenda and Minutes. Minutes, actions and notes of the group meetings will be circulated to all members, trust management teams and other interested parties. They will also be published on the
SWSCN website: http://www.swscn.org.uk/networks/cancer/site-specific-groups/peninsula-site-specificgroups/head-neck-ssg
Records of attendance will be maintained and shared with the Cancer Unit Managers in order to inform them of their trust’s representation at network level. Liz Boylan, Peninsular Cancer Network Manager, and the Network Administrative Assistant will provide managerial and administrative support at group meetings.
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The group will produce an Annual Report and Work Programme for Peer Review purposes
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015

Royal Devon & Exeter
NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Cornwall
Hospitals NHS Trust
South Devon
Healthcare NHS
Foundation Trust
Taunton and Somerset
NHS Foundation Trust
Miss Julie Dunn
Mr Richard Garth
Mr Douglas Ferguson
Ms Evette Grobbelaar
Mr Adam Wilde
Mr David Cunliffe
Mr Simon Hickey
Mr Edward Chisholm
Mr Sarwat Sadek
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Yes Yes
14-1C-107i
All Thyroid surgeons within the Network are able to perform level six (central compartment) neck dissections. Nominated surgeons from each trust will assist in lateral neck dissections.
Named surgeons in the network authorised to perform lymph node resections on thyroid
cancer patients.
Hospital Named Surgeon Lateral
Compartment
Central
Compartment
Plymouth Hospitals
NHS Trust
Mr Peter Cant
Mr Tass Malik
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
The Head and Neck NSSG has agreed to continue to follow the Head and Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary
Management Guidelines (ENT UK, 2011) clinical guidelines which include guidelines for skull base imaging.
They have also agreed to adopt RCR recommendations for cross-sectional imaging in cancer management
(2006). The Head and Neck Specialist Nurses have agreed to follow the SIGN guidelines with regard to the nursing elements of the patient pathways.
Click link to Royal College of Radiologists guidelines http://www.rcr.ac.uk/docs/oncology/pdf/Cross_Sectional_Imaging_12.pdf
Click below for link to ENTUK guidelines https://entuk.org/docs/prof/publications/230312Head_and_Neck_2012
Click below for link to SIGN guidelines http://www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign90.pdf
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The group has agreed to follow the Head and Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Management Guidelines 2011
(ENTUK) which include imaging guidelines and the British Thyroid Association Guidelines 2007. They have also agreed to adopt RCR recommendations for cross-sectional imaging in cancer management 2006.
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015

14-1C-110i
The NSSG, in consultation with the Network Chemotherapy Group (NCG) have agreed a list of acceptable chemotherapy treatment algorithms which will be updated bi-annually.
Click here for Chemotherapy Treatment Algorithms
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14-1C-113i
Primary Care practitioners will refer all patients defined by the “urgent, suspicious of cancer” guidelines for
Head and Neck cancer to the contact point of a single local Head and Neck team. Referring clinicians should ensure that all relevant information is provided to facilitate the continuity of care and avoid unnecessary delays.
There are two separate Referral Proformas relating to Head and Neck and Thyroid. Referrals can be made directly by dentists or via the general practitioner. Referral proformas are available on the PCN website.
Click link for access to documents. http://www.swscn.org.uk/networks/cancer/site-specific-groups/
The Peninsula Tertiary Referral Form (TRF01) should be used when referring patients to another Acute Trust for specialist investigation or treatment and sent within one working day of the referral being made. Click here for TR01 form
14-1C-114i
14-1C-116i
TBA
Patients with synchronous cancers at Head and Neck and other site
Such patients will be discussed in the Head and Neck MDT. Lead responsibility will be shared with the other site-specific MDT until it becomes clear which MDT would be best to lead in each individual case.
Distribution Process for Internal Referral Guidelines
Named Clinicians are as per the MDT list above.
The internal referral guidelines, once localised will be distributed to the Cancer Managers within each hospital for distribution to the following clinicians:
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015




Designated consultant clinicians
Non-designated consultant clinicians (ENT surgeons, endocrine surgeons, OMF surgeons, oral medicine specialists)
Endocrinologists.
The distribution process may be via the following routes:

Email

Hard copy

Trust intranet.
The guidelines will also be distributed to the following:

Head & Neck NSSG members

Head and Neck/ Thyroid MDT members
Pathology guidelines
The Group has adopted the guidelines of the Peninsula Cancer Network Pathology Group; both are available on the Head and Neck page of the PCN website.
Pathology Network Reporting Guidelines and Pathology Network External Referral Policy
Click link below for Head and Neck pathology policy and external referral guidelines http://www.peninsulacancernetwork.org.uk/professional/ssgs/Head/Pages/default.aspx
Network guidelines will be reviewed at least every three years or on the publication of new guidance.
It is the responsibility of the Chair of the Group to ensure that all Network guidelines are up to date and reflect current practice.
Network-wide Minimum Data Set
All Trusts have previously confirmed their compliance with data collection requirements for cancer waiting times and the Cancer Registry.
Together these constitute the MDS for the Head and Neck Group
Responsibility for Data
The Acute Trust first seeing a patient for a particular month or quarter is responsible for ensuring that the mandated data fields are complete on the database by the national deadline.
The Acute Trust first treating or giving subsequent treatment to a patient in a particular month or quarter is responsible for ensuring that the mandated data fields regarding that patient are complete on the database by the national deadline.
The multidisciplinary team responsible for the care of the patient should ensure that information is made available to allow it to be recorded prospectively and electronically.
Cancer Services teams in each Acute Trust should ensure that the information is transferred within the timescales specified and should establish robust lines of communication with their colleagues in other
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Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015

Acute Trusts.
Go to link below for MDS http://www.datadictionary.nhs.uk/data_dictionary/messages/clinical_data_sets/data_sets/cancer_regis tration_data_set_fr.asp?shownav=1
Peninsula Cancer Network Head & Neck Constitution 2015
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