Multidisciplinary Team Working

Abstract

The ever-changing face of modern healthcare has brought out the requirement to form a team of experts to help plan, coordinate and communicate the best possible care for cancer patients, reducing inequalities and increasing overall effectiveness. In most western countries, this structure and membership of skilled individuals are referred to as a multidisciplinary team (MDT). MDTs increase communication and decision-making, increase patient satisfaction, aid recruitment into clinical trials, enhance continuity of care and, not least, ensure the patient receives the best advice on appropriate treatment options.

This chapter will aim to explore some of the key roles and responsibilities within an MDT to help equip the novice nurse with a deeper understanding of both how the process works and how they can positively contribute to the patient’s cancer treatments and care pathway.