Refer to the neuro-oncology service

Find out how to refer patients to our neuro-oncology service, which cares for patients with brain tumours and spinal tumours from across north west London.

GP referrals

GPs should use the two week wait referral pathway for standard referrals to our neuro-oncology service.

Urgent referrals should be made through the on-call referral system via the on-call neuro-surgical registrar. To do this, please call 020 3311 1234 and ask the operator to bleep the on-call neuro-surgical registrar (bleep 8075).

Two week wait cancer referrals — click here to learn more

MDT Discussions

At our MDT meeting we have representation from numerous professionals from a range of specialties including neurosurgeons, neuro-radiologists, clinical oncologists, pathologists, neurologists, clinical nurse specialists, physio/occupational therapists, staff in training and members of staff from other hospitals in the region. We discuss cases referred to us, determine treatment options and review follow-up imaging if needed.

The Neuro-oncology MDT meetings are held twice weekly (Wednesday 3pm-5pm and Friday 1pm – 2pm). To refer a patient for discussion please email Imperial.braincns.mdt@nhs.net providing us with as much information as possible including their performance status, past medical history and if they have a known primary cancer details of their oncologist and treatments they have received.

Advice

Patients and carers should contact the Macmillan navigator service.  This is a telephone service which acts as a single point of contact to help you throughout your care. Navigators can provide a range of information, help and support, such as checking your appointment dates and altering these if required. When calling, please let the navigator know that you would like to speak with a Brain Tumour/ Neuro-oncology CNS. The navigator service is available Monday to Friday 08.00–18.00 and 09.00–17.00 at weekends. Telephone: 020 3313 0303  

Secretary: For oncology related question please contact Amy.Rice@nhs.net or 020 3311 8427 and for neurosurgical related questions please contact davina.mcdaid@nhs.net or 0203 313 5521. If you question is related to an appointment or if you need to be in contact with the nursing team please use the MacMillian Navigators. 

GPs and healthcare professionals only: Email: IMPERIAL.BRAINCNSNURSING@NHS.NET  or phone ‘The BrainCell’: 07826 917492 Monday through Friday, 08.30 to 17.00.  For MDT outcomes email:Imperial.braincns.mdt@nhs.net

Additional clinic information for GPs

Patients who are referred urgently will be discussed with the oncall neurosurgical registrar and consultant, and the neurosurgical registrar on call will contact the referring doctor directly. 
 
We run a joint neurosurgery-oncology clinic on a Thursday morning, and both skull-base and oncology clinics on a Monday morning. There is a nurse-led clinic on a Friday morning, as well as a Surgical Acute and Surveillance (SAS) Neurosurgery clinic. Letters will be dictated from clinic and made available electronically via the Trust clinical document library for participating GPs. Otherwise they will be posted out as standard. 
 
Patients are also given written information, including contact details, when they are seen in clinic (see below). MDT proformas are also sent to the GP, and this contains information relating to a patient's presentation history, imaging and histopathology findings, and a discussion of the MDT outcome and the treatment plan for the patient. 
 
For clinical queries, please contact the clinical nurse specialist team (details above).                          

Following admission to a local hospital 

Many patients with brain tumours will develop symptoms or be admitted to a local hospital as an emergency. We are always keen to hear about them and offer help where we can. Oncology, neurosurgery and neuro-oncology specialist nurses are all based at Charing Cross Hospital. If the patient is acutely unwell, liaise with your local acute general medical team (via emergency department /medical team), acute oncology service and stabilise the patient (steroids, anti-epileptics). If you have any patient pathway related issues or concerns, please contact our Neuro-oncology Network Relationship Manager on lillie.shahabi@nhs.net.  

For new referrals from secondary care, please use the ReferaPatient online portal and call the on-call neurosurgical SpR. Please email our MDT coordinator, Imperial.braincns.mdt@nhs.net details of the patient to ensure they are discussed the MDT meeting 
 
If you are a healthcare professional and need advice on existing patients please email or phone our Neuro-oncology CNS team on the BrainCell, 07826 917492 (Monday through Friday, 08.30 to 17.00) or via email at imperial.braincnsnursing@nhs.net. 

 For advice on existing patients please email or phone our service using the contact details listed above.