RESPECT-21: evaluation of specialist cancer surgery reorganisation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reorganising specialist cancer surgery for the 21st century: a mixed methods evaluation (RESPECT-21)
IRAS ID
171442
Contact name
Naomi J. Fulop
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 6 months, days
Research summary
Evidence suggests that for some types of operation, hospitals have better results the more procedures they conduct. It has been recommended that specialist cancer surgery services should be provided in fewer hospitals (centralised). Yet little is known about whether and how centralisation of cancer surgery services affects patient outcomes and experience, care provision, and cost; nor about how such changes are planned, implemented, and sustained. We want to study changes in specialist cancer surgery services across North Central and North East London and West Essex (3.2m population) and across Greater Manchester (3.1m population). Both areas are currently working to reduce the number of hospitals providing specialist surgery for a range of cancers. Our research questions are:
RQ1. What were the key processes in centralising specialist cancer surgery services in London Cancer and Manchester Cancer?
RQ2. What is the impact of the centralisations on provision of care, in terms of clinical processes and outcomes?
RQ3. What are the cost and cost-effectiveness of the changes?
RQ4. What is the impact on patient experience, including choice and how care is provided?
RQ5. What is the impact on staff and hospitals, including ways of working, skill mix and approaches to collaboration?
RQ6. What are patient, public and professional preferences in relation to these centralisations?
RQ7. How might lessons from centralising specialist cancer surgery services be applied in future centralisations of specialist cancer services and other specialist services?We will examine hospital data, service plans, and meeting minutes; interview people associated with cancer services; and survey patients, members of the public, and healthcare professionals, about their preferences for changes of this kind. We will identify the effect changes like this have on patients, carers, professionals and services, and how such changes are planned, applied, and kept going, and how local factors influence this.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/YH/0359
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion