Cancer treatments at home or in the community

Cancer treatments at home

This page explains how some cancer treatments can be given away from hospital, such as at home or in the community. It tells you what this means, why it is done, and how your care stays safe.

Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, and Locala are working together to look at new ways to deliver treatment away from hospital. We are talking with patients, GPs, community nurses and hospital teams. There’s a chance for you to have your say, with a link to an online form at the bottom of this page.

But first, a few of the basics to help with your understanding.

What is SACT?
You may read or hear us use ‘SACT’ which stands for Systemic Anti‑Cancer Therapy.

These are medicines that treat cancer by going around the whole body, not just one place. SACT includes: Chemotherapy, targeted treatments, immunotherapy, and biological treatments.

These medicines can be given:

As tablets or capsules (by mouth)
Through a drip into a vein
As an injection under the skin

What does “Away from Hospital SACT” mean?
Quite simply, it means having your cancer treatment outside a hospital building, such as in your own home or in a community clinic.

But it doesn’t mean you’re on your own. Your Cancer doctor, prescribing team and hospital pharmacy still manage your treatment and safety, even when it is given elsewhere.

Why does it help?
Having treatment away from hospital can make treatment easier to fit into daily life. It can provide more comfort and privacy; less travel/travel costs; and better access to long or ongoing treatments.

It also helps to create space in hospitals or other services for people who need complex care, and helps new patients start treatment sooner.

The new approach will support people receiving SACT across Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

Is it safe?
We know the idea of having your treatment away from hospital may make you anxious, but your safety is always the top priority. Some hospitals already provide treatment at home, particularly for those who have lower-risk treatments or take medicines with predictable side effects. It’s also used for people whose cancer is stable. Specialist nurses visit patients at home and are supported by the hospital cancer team.

All treatment, wherever it is given, must follow strict safety rules, including:

Specially trained staff
Careful checks before each treatment
Clear instructions for medicines
Plans to deal with side effects quickly
Strong national safety standards

Some services use trained homecare teams, especially for tablet treatments and some injections or infusions. When this is the case, doctors still decide on treatment, medicines are safely supplied, and care follows agreed safety rules, as you would expect.

So, that’s the background, but what might it mean for you?
This will depend on your treatment and what is safest for you. You may take medicines or give yourself injections at home, or a trained community nurse may give your treatment. Community staff are trained to not only give you your treatment safely, but they can spot and manage side effects, and know when to contact the team at a hospital.

We want to know what you think. You can tell us by completing our online anonymous survey.

Questions or concerns?

If you have questions about receiving treatment away from hospital: