A Study of the Incidence and Management of Admissions for Cancer-related Symptoms in a District General Hospital: the Potential Role of an Acute Oncology Service

About one patient/day was admitted with cancer complications, many of whom will have contacted primary care in the week preceding admission. An AOS, integrating primary and secondary care, would benefit cancer patients by (i) optimising community care, potentially reducing hospital admissions and (ii) increasing inpatient specialist input to reduce length of inpatient stay. Implementation of an AOS would probably have a significant impact on both cancer patients at an individual level and service provision at a regional and national level.