Quality standard
Quality statement 3: Access to a clinical nurse specialist
Quality statement 3: Access to a clinical nurse specialist
Rationale
Adults with bladder cancer who are supported by a clinical nurse specialist have a better experience of bladder cancer services than those who are not. The clinical nurse specialist can be involved in discussing treatment options and act as the person's key worker to address their information and care needs, including psychosocial support and referral to palliative care if needed. They can also discuss the effects of treatment on the person's body image and sexual health, and help them find relevant information.
Quality measures
The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.
Structure
Evidence of local arrangements and written clinical protocols to ensure that designated clinical nurse specialists are accessible to adults with bladder cancer.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
Proportion of adults with bladder cancer who have a designated clinical nurse specialist.
Numerator – the number in the denominator who have a designated clinical nurse specialist.
Denominator – the number of adults with bladder cancer in secondary care.
Data source: Local data collection.
Outcome
Satisfaction with support received from a clinical nurse specialist, reported by adults with bladder cancer.
Data source: Local data collection. The National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service patient experience survey collects data on support from a clinical nurse specialist for adults with urological cancers.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (secondary care services) ensure that systems are in place for adults with bladder cancer to have access to a designated clinical nurse specialist.
Healthcare professionals offer adults with bladder cancer access to a designated clinical nurse specialist.
Commissioners ensure that they commission services that offer adults with bladder cancer access to a designated clinical nurse specialist.
Adults with bladder cancer are offered support from a clinical nurse specialist who has experience in caring for people with bladder cancer. The clinical nurse specialist can provide information about bladder cancer and the treatment options, and help them find information and other support they might need.
Source guidance
Bladder cancer. NICE guideline NG2 (2015), recommendations 1.1.2 and 1.1.3