Acute Oncology Service

Acute Oncology Service

The Acute Oncology Service (AOS) aims to improve the quality of care for patients who are unwell due to complications of their cancer, suspected cancer or its treatment by providing rapid assessment and initial management of symptoms. It also provides advice and support to patients who have a cancer or metastases of unknown primary origin (known as CUP).

Services offered by the team include:

• Helping patients to manage the side effects of cancer treatments
• Providing advice to other health professional involved in the patient's care
• Offering ongoing support to patients and their families
• Making rapid referrals to other specialties (if needed)
• Helping to facilitate an early discharge from hospital wherever possible

The team has strong links with all wards and departments within County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust hospital sites as well as with community health care providers.

There are four Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists who work at the University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital.  They work Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm and can be contacted as follows:

Darlington Memorial Hospital - 01325 380 100 (switchboard)

University Hospital of North Durham -  0191 333 2333 (switchboard)

Please ask for the Acute Oncology Clincial Nurse Specialist.