Palliative radiotherapy in-patient service management (PRISM)

The PRISM team is made up of three main groups

The lead team – ACP in palliative radiotherapy and the on-call consultant and registrar team
Oncology services
In partnership teams

The service is led by the advanced clinical practitioner (ACP) in palliative radiotherapy, working closely with the on-call clinical consultant oncologists and oncology registrars.

The ACP coordinates urgent or emergency radiotherapy referrals. This includes assessing patients, gaining consent, and arranging treatment.

The Acute Oncology Service (AOS) team works alongside the ACP to organise care and treatment for patients who need palliative radiotherapy.

The PRISM team also works in partnership with the radiotherapy team, including pre-treatment staff and Therapeutic Radiographers, to plan and deliver radiotherapy.

Other teams may also be involved in a patient’s care when needed.

These include the specialist palliative care team (SPCT), both in hospital and in the community, and the Malignancy of Unknown Origin (MUO) team, who support patients with an undiagnosed cancer and help with further tests.

Sometimes, patients needing urgent radiotherapy are transferred from nearby hospitals, such as North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, Friarage Hospital, and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. For this reason, clear communication between local AOS teams and hospital wards is very important.

Patient requiring urgent/emergency radiotherapy? Including:

Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC)
Superior Vena-Cava Obstruction (SVCO)
Cancer related bleeding
Cancer induced compressive symptoms
Cancer related pain management

Referrals to be made via

The James Cook University Hospital WEBICE – urgent radiotherapy referral
External referrals can be made via external emergency radiotherapy request form. Once completed please email the form to [email protected]

And ring the advanced practitioner or the on-call oncology consultant/registrar team (timing of who to contact are listed below) to inform the relevant team of the referral.

Contact palliative radiotherapy team

Advanced practitioner (in urgent and palliative radiotherapy) Sophie Burns:

Mobile: 07442824652
Email: [email protected]
Available: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
(Outside these hours, please contact the on-call consultant/registrar).

Outside of hours

For the on-call oncology consultant/oncology registrar, phone The James Cook University Hospital switchboard, 01642 850850 and ask for the registrar/consultant On-call.
(The oncology SpR bleep is 1425)
After hours and weekends (including any time after 5pm, weekends and bank holidays).

Acute oncology service (AOS)

Phone The James Cook University Hospital switchboard on 01642 850850 and enter extension 57983. Alternatively you can phone 07741616475
Email: [email protected]
Available: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm