Resources for GPs
We have tools and resources to help GPs support people living with or at risk of cancer.
On this page
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A guide to the GP contract 2022/23
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Consequences of Treatment Toolkit
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Cancer Care Review guidance
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Rapid referral guidelines
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Learning Event Analysis toolkit
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Education and development opportunities
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Electronic safety netting toolkit
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Cancer and Domestic Abuse: a toolkit for professionals
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Top tips for primary care professionals
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Oncology and haematology risk assessment tool
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Cancer Decision Support (CDS) tool
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Innovation in cancer care resources
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Clinical updates for healthcare professionals
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Research and evidence
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For your patients
A guide to the GP contract 2022/23
GPs play a vital role in the early diagnosis of cancer and in supporting people living with cancer. There are contractual requirements to support this. We have guidance to help with:
- the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)
- Investment and Impact fund (IIF)
- Primary Care Network Direct Enhanced Service Contract (PCN DES).
We also have resources to support Cancer Care Reviews and quality improvement in primary care.
Consequences of Treatment Toolkit
The Consequences of Treatment Toolkit has been designed to help Primary Healthcare Professionals support patients who are facing poor health or quality of life because of their cancer and the treatment they received. It contains resources for:
- Supporting rehabilitation after a cancer diagnosis, including exercise and work
- Managing ongoing symptoms after cancer and personalised care planning
- How to access further training
Cancer Care Review guidance
A Cancer Care Review (CCR) is a conversation between a patient and their GP or Practice Nurse about their cancer journey. A CCR can help patients to:
- talk about their cancer experience and concerns
- understand what support is available in their community
- receive the information they need to begin supported self-management.
We have developed resources and electronic templates to help you to support your patients.
Related pages
Rapid referral guidelines
Our Rapid Referral Guidelines are designed to help you identify children, young people and adults with symptoms of suspected cancer. They can help you decide if a referral is:
- non-urgent – requires routine referral or tests
- urgent – required within two weeks
- very urgent – required within 48 hours.
The guidelines are endorsed by NICE and summarise the (NG12) guidelines for suspected cancer. They suggest what to look for in primary care, with referral recommendations and safety netting advice.
The NHS has specific Referral guidelines for Scotland.
Learning Event Analysis toolkit
The Learning Event Analysis (LEA) toolkit, is an update to the Significant Event Analysis (SEA) Toolkit, which was developed in collaboration with the RCGP. It supports GPs to reflect on cancer diagnoses and identify improvements to:
- practice systems
- hospital systems
- cancer referral pathways
- proactive safety-netting.
We provide you with templates, fictional examples of cancer SEAs and guidance to support you with completing LEAs and improving early diagnosis.
Education and development opportunities
To find out more about the current and upcoming education and training opportunities, please visit the Learning Hub.
Electronic safety netting toolkit
The North Central London Cancer Alliance (formerly UCLH Cancer Collaborative) has developed an electronic toolkit to support GPs with safety netting in cancer-related clinical situations. The toolkit will support GPs to:
- schedule diary reminders in their system
- receive alerts to follow up with patients at a later date
- share important information with patients.
The toolkit can be accessed nationally by any GP practice using EMIS Web.
Cancer and Domestic Abuse: a toolkit for professionals
This toolkit is designed to help healthcare professionals working with people affected by cancer. It can help you to identify and respond to signs of domestic abuse affecting patients and carers.
Domestic abuse causes long-lasting physical and mental health harm. It can impact cancer care, treatment, and recovery. Working in cancer, you have a unique window of opportunity to intervene and make a difference.
Watch a recording of the toolkit launch, where you will hear from Macmillan CEO Gemma Peters, two lived experience voices and partnership leads from Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, the University of Bristol, and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.
For any questions or feedback on the project, please contact canceranddomesticabuse@macmillan.org.uk.
Top tips for primary care professionals
We've created our 10 top tips series to help primary care professionals support patients at every stage of the cancer pathway. The tips are designed to showcase best practice and offer practical advice for your role.
We have tips to support primary care professionals with:
- early diagnosis of cancer
- management of treatment side effects
- prehabilitation and rehabilitation
- palliative and end of life care
- social prescribing.
Oncology and haematology risk assessment tool
We have developed a risk assessment tool to help primary care professionals recognise and manage the side effects of treatment in oncology and haematology patients.
It will help you to support patients who are:
- at risk of immunosuppresion
- receiving systemic anti-cancer therapies
- undergoing radiotherapy.
The tool uses a Red, Amber, Green (RAG) system to grade symptoms and advises action accordingly.
Cancer Decision Support (CDS) tool
The Cancer Decision Support (CDS) tool helps GPs with clinical decision making. It encourages GPs to 'think cancer' and shows the risk of a patient having an undiagnosed, site-specific cancer. The tool calculates the risk of cancer based on coded information in the patient's file, including:
- symptoms
- medical history
- demographic data.
How to access the CDS tool
You can access the tool from these GP IT providers:
- EMIS Web
- INPS Vision
- TPP SystmOne (coming soon)
We have created a series of video tutorials for the CDS tool.
Innovation in cancer care resources
We invest in programmes and services to help professionals adopt new and innovative ways to deliver cancer care in the UK. Working in communities and with the NHS, we fund pilots to improve experiences and outcomes for people with cancer. With this knowledge, we have created tools and resources to help you deliver:
Clinical updates for healthcare professionals
Stay up to date with the latest developments in cancer care, with expert news, opinion and analysis. You'll also find blogs about our professionals and the fantastic work they do.
Read our latest blogs for healthcare professionals.
Read the Macmillan Northern Ireland Prehab Programme Evaluation interim evaluation
Subscribe to our newsletters
We publish a range of newsletters for professionals who support people living with cancer. Whatever your role, we'll support you with clinical updates, tools and resources.
Research and evidence
We're at the forefront of understanding the needs and experiences of people living with cancer. Get the evidence and insight you need to develop or deliver best practice in cancer care, delivered by our team of experts.