Urology Nurse Specialist Key Worker and Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Meetings

Richmond Urology Unit-Leigh Infirmary

What is the role of the Urology Nurse Specialist / Key Worker?

The Urology Nurse Specialist (UNS) / Key Worker provides a service for patients diagnosed with a urological cancer.

The role is available to provide you with a point of contact from diagnosis through investigations and treatment for patient and their families whose life has been affected by a life changing diagnosis.

Finding out you have cancer may be a difficult time for you.  You may have concerns or questions and to help you I am your key worker.

My name is ...................................................................................................................................... 

You can contact me on 01942 264491 Monday to Friday 8:30 am until 5 pm.

We can offer:

• Co-ordination of patient journey as the Key Worker
• Advice and emotional support to you and your family
• Explanation of the Multidisciplinary team meeting process
• Written information about your urological cancer, potential treatments and management.
• A link with other services and treatment centres
• Point of contact – Key Worker role
• Referral to other services as needs require
• Support group meeting information 

If you require help or advice outside our working hours, you can seek support from GP.

Counselling

Finding out you have cancer and adjusting to life after cancer can be an emotionally difficult time.  Counselling services aim to give you (and your family) the opportunity to talk through your worries and concerns.  Counselling services can be arranged through your GP.

Support groups

Approximately every 8 weeks we are holding a urological cancer support group, please contact your keyworker for details.  All welcome including partners.

You might find it helpful to meet others who have similar experiences to yourself.  Please ask for contact details.

Useful websites

Cancer Backup

www.cancerbackup.org.uk 

Macmillan Cancer Relief

www.macmillan.org.uk 

Patient Information

www.nhs.uk/ipg 

Patient Experience

www.cancerinfo.nhs.uk 

Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings

Your healthcare team

Diagnosing and treating Urological cancers requires a team of experts. This team is called a Multi-Disciplinary team or MDT for short.  The team is made up of professionals who deal with cancer.  These are individuals who understand what cancer cells look like and how they behave, people who can carry out tests and decide what the type of cancer is, and which drugs are most effective in treating your cancer.

With a lot of urological cancers, particularly prostate, your case will need discussing at a Specialist Multi-Disciplinary team (SMDT) meeting.  This takes place a Salford Royal (Hope) Hospital, these meetings are scheduled weekly, and your key worker will inform you when your case will be discussed.  You are not required to attend these meetings

There are lots of people in the MDT/SMDT.  All the team play a part in supporting you and your family throughout your care pathway, some of the team that you may meet may include the following:

Consultant Urologist

You will be referred to a consultant in the first instance.  The Consultant Urologist will assess your symptoms and diagnose primary and recurrent cancers.  Once your condition has been diagnosed, the Urologist will discuss your different treatment options, including any medication currently available.  They will also, if indicated, carry out any operations required to treat your cancer.

Clinical Oncologist

This is a visiting doctor from the Christie Hospital who is an expert in deciding which drugs or other treatment will be the best for treating your type of cancer.  A Clinical Oncologist is a specialist in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.  A Medical Oncologist is a specialist in chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

Urology Nurse Specialist 

This is an expert nurse with specialist additional qualifications in their area of expertise, which covers the disease and its treatment/management. The nurse will assist in co-ordinating your journey and take some responsibility for your chosen pathway.

Radiologist

This is a doctor who is an expert in looking at x-rays and carrying out technical diagnostic imaging and special scans from which a diagnosis is made.

Diagnostic Radiographer 

This is a person who uses a range of equipment such as x-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, bone scans and MR scans to produce images of an injury or disease.  This will help assist in your diagnosis and treatment management.

Research Nurse 

The research nurse identifies patients, who are eligible for any research studies that are currently being carried out in the Urology department.  You may be approached to participate.

The Pathologist 

This is a doctor who is an expert in looking at cells under a microscope and working out how they might behave.  They look at your biopsies and diagnose the presence of cancer cells.

Therapy Radiographer 

This is a person who organises and gives radiotherapy treatment working closely with the Clinical Oncologist.

The Registrar/Staff Grade Urologist 

Is a senior doctor, who has chosen to specialise in Urology and is receiving specialist training.

You come first

To make sure you are the one who benefits, everyone in the MDT/SMDT meets on a weekly basis. 

Your case will be discussed; you will then be informed of the treatment choices available to you.  Verbal and written information will be given to you at every stage of your care to help support any decision you make.