Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)
What is the Multi-Disciplinary Team?
The Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) consists of members of staff
with specialist training and experience of the diagnosis and
management of cancer. The idea behind an MDT meeting is to
streamline and improve continuity of care, with everyone being
informed of the overall picture and included in decision making
about your treatment. It ensures the very best care and
treatment is recommended for you.
Members of the cancer MDT
The membership of the MDT will depend on your cancer
type (for example gynaecological or bowel), however, it
will have core members such as:
- surgeons
- oncologists (specialists in cancer care who oversee treatment
with chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
- histopathologists (who look at tissues and cells under the
microscope)
- radiologists (who look at scans and x-rays)
- palliative care doctors
- cancer clinical nurse specialists (keyworkers)
- MDT co-ordinator (who organises the meetings)
- clinical psychologist (who helps the whole team to look after
patients' emotional needs)
MDT meetings
The MDT meeting is usually held every week to discuss
individual patients and their treatment. The MDT may discuss
patients at any point in their cancer pathway for example:
- after having a biopsy
- after having a test (eg a scan)
- after completing a course of treatment
- if new symptoms develop
MDT decisions
Once the MDT agrees the treatment plan, an appointment is made
for you to discuss this plan. In some instances the discussions
using all the information about your case may alter the
diagnosis.
If you need to access a member of the MDT to discuss your
treatment, or if you require further information about any aspect
of your diagnosis or care, you should contact your cancer clinical
nurse specialist.
Treatment at other hospitals
Depending on your cancer type your treatment may well be carried
out in different parts of this hospital, for example in
the Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre (BHOC).
