“I look forward to each and every appointment with my Community Intervention Team at my local primary care centre,” according to John Wall, a cancer patient in Ennis, sharing his experience of receiving cancer care in the community.

“As strange as this may seem, this is simply because I now look forward to the chats and no longer fear the needles or whatever else may arise. The Community Intervention Teams around the country provide an absolutely invaluable service to patients and in so doing allow people like myself to avoid having to attend an acute hospital setting where possible.”

Community Intervention Teams (CITs) provide comprehensive care to patients with cancer, including managing oral anti-cancer medications and providing phlebotomy (blood-related services) and supportive therapies. The teams work closely with the Acute Haematology Oncology Service, guaranteeing patients' safety and wellbeing with clearly defined patient pathways for referral to back into acute services if required.

National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) e-Learning programme

A new HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) e-Learning programme will equip more community-based nurses with the knowledge and skills to safely provide care in the community to individuals with cancer, at all stages of the cancer journey. In recent years, there has been a move towards more and more patients with cancer being looked after in the community, significantly reducing hospital and ED attendances.

The new Community Cancer Nursing e-Learning Programme is available on HSeLanD, the HSE’s eLearning portal. The programme is freely available to registered nurses working in the community setting, including Public Health Nurses, community nurses, general practice nurses and nurses working in Community Intervention Teams. It is also suitable for all nurses and health and social care professionals who wish to know more about cancer and the effect it has on the person.

Lisa Marry, Assistant Director of Nursing, NCCP, explained that “the quality of the educational resource we have produced will benefit nurses and other health and social care professionals, increasing their knowledge and confidence in caring for people with cancer. But, most importantly, the programme will benefit people living with and beyond cancer as they can be cared for closer to home by skilled and confident community nurses.”