To evaluate how the outcome of Neuroendocrine tumour (NET) Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting decisions are conveyed to patients at a ENETS centre of excellence (The Christie) and how this service can be further improved

Background: It is recommended that people with cancer should be managed by an MDT and decisions should be communicated in a “timely manner”. However, it does not specify when this should be done, or by whom, or patients’ preference in relation to how and when the outcome is communicated. The aim of this study was to review how MDT outcomes were communicated in an ENETs centre of excellence (The Christie). Methods: In this single-centred retrospective study, case-notes of 55 patients who had recently been discussed at the NET MDT (April-June 2015) were reviewed. Results: All MDT outcomes were documented in case-notes within 7 days of the MDT. Sixty-two percent of patients were informed of the outcome. Of the 62%, 88% were informed in clinic. One third of these were informed by a Consultant, 45% by Senior doctors and 21% by the Nurse Clinician. Of the 62%, 94% had been informed of the MDT outcome within 14 days (median time: 6 days [range 0-21]). Thirty-four percent of General Practitioners were informed; 78% received communication within 8 days (range 0-28). Ninety-four percent of the recommended actions from the MDT were conducted within 14 days (median time: 5 days [range 0-60]). Conclusion: Case-note documentation and ensuring MDT outcomes were actioned within 2 weeks was >90%. In most cases, patients were informed of the MDT outcome during a clinic consultation by the NET team. Only 62% of patients and 33% of GPs were informed of the outcome, therefore greater adherence to communication is required.