PP-55 The Introduction of a joint clinical oncology and palliative care ‘symptom control clinic’ at Oxford university hospital NHS foundation trust

Introduction Palliative radiotherapy is an effective treatment for symptoms caused by metastatic cancer, commonly pain and bleeding. Timely initiation is crucial as patients are often highly symptomatic and have a limited prognosis. Patients who benefit from palliative radiotherapy may have complex symptoms and psychological needs, highlighting the importance of providing holistic support alongside radiotherapy. Aims A ‘Symptom Control Clinic’ was established through collaboration between clinical oncology and palliative care. Patients are reviewed by an oncologist and then given the opportunity to meet with a palliative care doctor. Methods A retrospective review of patients seen in the ‘Symptom Control Clinic’ between June 2024 – February 2025. Results 83 patients were assessed in the clinic, with a median time of 13 days from referral to review. Primary reasons for referral were pain (69%), local disease control (10%), and bleeding (8%). 73% of patients received palliative radiotherapy, with a median time of 9 days from review to delivery. 42% of patients were also seen by the Palliative Care Team, of which 49% were new to palliative services. 33% of patients not seen lived outside of the hospice catchment area. Most frequent areas addressed were medication reviews (83%), advanced care discussions (31%) and wider MDT referrals (26%). 69% of patients reviewed by the palliative care team had ongoing palliative input arranged. Conclusions The ‘Symptom Control Clinic’ has provided a route for patients to have rapid access to palliative radiotherapy and a same-day palliative care review, often for the first time. The uptake of a palliative review was lower than expected and further investigation is underway to establish and address the causes of this. Impact The introduction of a collaborative clinic between oncology and palliative care has provided a pathway for patients to rapidly access palliative radiotherapy alongside a holistic palliative care assessment.