Joint Statement from BHB, PALS, Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre (BCHC) and Ministry of Health on oncology referral navigation

Friday 15 November 2024: Cancer care service providers are working together around the clinical care of all patients with cancer and wanted to provide an overview of how new cancers will be managed while Bermuda Hospitals Board’s (BHB’s) two newly appointed oncologists go through the final stages of moving to the island.

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) announced last week that two new full-time oncologists had been hired.  Their immigration applications have now been approved and BHB is in the process of confirming start dates of the new oncologists.

Although BHB’s medical oncology capacity has been reduced, the clinical teams are all here to help and will remain involved for all those with cancer. Moving forward, all referrals for oncology patients should be sent via email to the BCHC Cancer Navigator at referrals@chc.bm. Any referrals received directly to medical oncology via the current route will be forwarded on.

This includes new consults, previously seen patients with new issues and any returning overseas patients.

As standard, referrals should include a referral letter, pathology report, imaging reports, lab work and any overseas notes.

Each patient will be triaged and reviewed through an additional oncology tumour board dedicated to triaging patient care. This will occur weekly or as needed for urgent patients.  Recommendations will be documented in a tumour board note, and the patient will be followed to the next steps of their pathway.

Patients requiring further discussion with the wider multidisciplinary team will be presented at the General tumour board, which occurs each Friday.

Patients requiring referral overseas for treatment will have their HIAB form completed by the navigation team. However, the GP or referring physician will remain the point of contact for those patients and will be required to contact the patient to advise them of the tumour board recommendation.

The cancer navigator will then follow up with the patient regarding overseas referral information/process.  Patients will be advised to liaise with their insurance company regarding which facility they should be referred to.

Patients who can receive treatment on the island will be referred to the appropriate physicians and monitored by the navigation team for any status updates/changes.

The Navigation team can be contacted with any other questions or concerns:

Michele Hypolite & Harriet Stuckes

referrals@chc.bm

441-621-1003

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