Implementation of cancer treatment summaries in NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Cancer incidence is increasing year on year; survivorship rates are also increasing, as is the use of novel agents and additional treatment lines. These factors, along with evidence that suggests people are struggling to cope with the long-term effects of their diagnosis and its treatment, suggest we need to transform our approach to care and make better use of primary care, community assets and self-management. Transforming Care After Treatment (TCAT) was launched in 2013. A partnership between the Scottish Government, Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS Scotland and local authorities, it is intended to support and enable cancer survivors to live as healthy a life as possible for as long as possible. NHS Ayrshire and Arran worked with local patients and other partners to develop an action plan to meet TCAT's aims. In 2014, the TCAT team began to introduce initiatives that would support holistic care throughout the extended cancer pathway. One such initiative was a treatment summary. The approach to its implementation and patients' and GPs' perspectives of its initial effect are outlined in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]