Background: Endometrial cancer is the most common invasive gynaecological cancer in Australia and its incidence is rising.  Despite the fact that regular review after treatment of early endometrial cancer has not been shown to detect recurrent disease and the majority of women have several health conditions that are confounders to their cancer, current follow-up practice brings women back for hospital review for at least five years after definitive surgery for their cancer.

Objective: The aim of a project conducted at The Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, was to implement and evaluate a new model of follow-up care for women following definitive hospital treatment for early endometrial cancer whereby a woman’s needs were assessed by a specialist nurse, and resultant specialist referrals and clinical handover made to a woman’s general practitioner.

Method: After grant funding from the Integrated Cancer Services supporting a multidisciplinary team, evaluation measures included both quantitative and qualitative components, including: recruitment to the model of care; surveys of women and general practitioners; review of medical records; communication to general practitioners; service data; review of a pre-cohort medical records and service data; and, integration into standard practice.

Results: Results, which will be part of this presentation, were that the model was overwhelmingly acceptable to patients, cancer specialists and general practitioners. This new model has been implemented as standard care at our hospital and is being explored by Cancer Australia as a survivorship model to be rolled out nationally.

Discussion: With an increasing number of people surviving cancer, in order to address holistic health needs and maintain tertiary service capacity, general practice will be required to provide more follow-up care. Our model demonstrates an acceptable and quality mechanism for this to occur.