On this page, you will find useful resources relating to learning, research and policy in the field of head and neck cancer.
Please note: the resources on this page are provided for informational purposes only. No endorsement is expressed or implied, unless otherwise stated. While we make every effort to ensure this page is up to date and relevant, we cannot take responsibility for pages or documents maintained by external providers.
Please contact us if you have any suggestions or feedback on these pages.
Back to Head and Neck Cancer
Research and evidence
Introduction
Visit the RCSLT Research Centre for information and resources to support your evidence-based practice, ways to enhance your continuing professional development (CPD), information about clinical academic careers, resources to help you get involved in research and much more.
Please contact us if you have any suggestions or feedback on these pages.
Finding evidence
Access research articles through our RCSLT Journals Collection and more resources to support using evidence-based practice in our Research Centre.
ASHA Evidence Maps
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has collated recent research by clinical area or condition. This includes external scientific evidence, clinical expertise and client perspectives.
Guidelines
RCSLT guidance
- Laryngectomy Position Paper (2023)
- Laryngectomy Competency Framework (2023) (PDF)
- Laryngectomy Competency Framework (2023) (Word)
- RCSLT Clinical Guidance for the Management of Total Laryngectomy in the Context of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020)
NICE guidelines
- Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence. NICE guideline [NG209] (2022)
- End of life care for adults: service delivery. NICE guideline [NG142] (2019)
- Improving the care of head and neck cancer patients with collaborative dietetics and speech and language therapy intervention. Shared learning database (2019)
- Head and Neck Cancer: Quality Standard 146 (2017)
- Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 and over. NICE guideline [NG36] (2016, updated 2018)
- Suspected cancer. Quality standard [QS124] (2016)
- Care of dying adults in the last days of life. NICE guideline [NG31] (2015)
- Suspected cancer: recognition and referral. NICE guideline [NG12] (2015)
- Smoking: supporting people to stop. Quality standard [QS43] (2013, updated 2021)
- Nutrition support in adults. Quality standard [QS24] (2012)
- Alcohol-use disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking (high-risk drinking and alcohol dependence. Clinical guideline [CG115] (2011)
- Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition. Clinical guideline [CG32] (2006)
- Improving outcomes in head and neck cancers. Cancer service guideline [CSG6] (2004)
- Improving supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer. Cancer service guideline [CSG4] (2004).
Further guidelines and policies
UK Guidelines
- Speech, Voice and Swallowing Rehabilitation for Head and Neck Cancer (Goff et al, to be published)
- Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care: A national framework for local action 2021-2026 (National Palliative and End of Life Care Partnership, 2021)
- British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists Standards 2020 (BAHNO, 2020)
- Cancer Rehabilitation Pathways Guidance (Macmillan, 2020)
- Prehabilitation principles and guidance for people with cancer (Macmillan, 2019)
- The Rich Picture: People with Head and Neck Cancer. Understanding the numbers, needs and experiences of people affected by cancer (Macmillan, 2017)
- Head and Neck Cancer: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines. 6th Edition (Homer and Winter, 2024)
- Speech and swallow rehabilitation in head and neck cancer: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines (Clarke et al, 2016)
- Palliative and supportive care in head and neck cancer: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines (Cocks et al, 2016)
- Living with and Beyond Cancer: Taking Action to Improve Outcomes (National Cancer Survivorship Initiative, 2013)
- Supporting and Improving Commissioning of Cancer Rehabilitation Services (National Cancer Action Team, 2009)
- Cancer and Palliative Care Rehabilitation Workforce Project: A Review of the Evidence (National Cancer Action Team, 2009)
- National Cancer Action Team. Programme Manual for Cancer Services 2008: Head and Neck Measures (1-15). (National Cancer Action Team, 2008)
See also:
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) datasets for prevalence/ incidence statistics, data analysis and reports
- National End of Life Care Intelligence Network (NEoLCIN): palliative and end of life care, profiles and reports
- National Head and Neck Cancer Audit (HANA)
International Guidelines
- European Head and Neck Society recommendations for head and neck cancer survivorship care (Verdonck-de Leeuw, I. et al, 2022)
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network Head and Neck Cancer Guidelines (NCCN, 2022)
- ESPEN guideline on hospital nutrition (European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, 2021)
- European White Paper: Oropharyngeal dysphagia in head and neck cancer (Baijens et al, 2020)
- Core competencies in palliative care: An EACP white paper on palliative care education – Part 1 Palliative and End of Life Care. Competency Assessment Tool (Gamondi et al, 2013)
Please note: the resources on this page are provided for informational purposes only. No endorsement is expressed or implied, unless otherwise stated. While we make every effort to ensure this page is up to date and relevant, we cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers.
Legislation and policy
England
- The NHS Long Term Plan (NHS England, 2019)
- Quick guide: The role of allied health professionals in supporting people to live well with and beyond cancer (NHS England, 2018)
- Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England (HEE, 2017)
- The NHS Cancer Workforce Plan (HEE, 2017)
- Delivering World-Class Cancer Outcomes: Guidance for Cancer Alliances and the National Cancer Vanguard (NHS England, 2017)
- Commissioning Guidance for Rehabilitation (NHS England, 2016a)
- Achieving world-class cancer outcomes: a strategy for England 2015-2020 (NHS England, 2016b)
- Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes: Taking the strategy forwards (NHS England, 2016)
- Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes: A Strategy for England 2015-2020 (Independent Cancer Taskforce, Cancer Research UK, 2015).
- Five Year Forward View (NHS England, 2014)
- Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer Fourth Annual Report (Department of Health, 2014)
- 2014/14 NHS Standard Contract for Cancer: Head and Neck (Adult) (NHS England, 2013)
- Improving Outcomes: a Strategy for Cancer (Department of Health, 2011)
Scotland
- National cancer plan: progress report – August 2022 (Scottish Government, 2022)
- Cancer workforce: clinical leadership guidance (Scottish Government, 2022)
- National radiotherapy plan (Scottish Government, 2022)
- National cancer plan: progress report – August 2022 (Scottish Government, 2022)
- Effective Cancer management: framework (Scottish Government, 2021)
- Head and Neck Cancer Clinical Quality Performance Indicators (Healthcare Improvement Scotland, 2021)
- Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action (Scottish Government, 2016)
- Better Cancer Care, An Action Plan (Scottish Government, 2008)
Wales
- National Optimal Pathway for Cancer (Welsh Government, 2022)
- The quality statement for cancer (Welsh Government, 2021)
- NHS Wales Health Collaborative Annual Report 2020/21 (NHS Wales Health Collaborative, 2021)
- National Report Wales Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2016 (Welsh Government and Macmillan Cancer Support, 2017)
- Cancer Delivery Plan for Wales 2016-2020 (Welsh Government, 2016)
- National Standards for Rehabilitation of Adult Cancer Patients (Welsh Assembly Government, 2010)
See also:
Northern Ireland
- A Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland 2022-2032 (Department of Health, 2022)
- Cancer: Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Assembly, 2017)
- Cancer prevention, treatment and care – service framework documents (Department of Health, 2011)
Ireland
- Cancer in Ireland 1994-2017 with estimates for 2017-2019: Annual report of the National Cancer Registry. 2019 Annual Report (National Cancer Registry Ireland, 2019)
- The Unmet Needs of Cancer Survivors in Ireland: A Scoping Review (National Cancer Registry Ireland, 2019)
- National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 (Government of Ireland, 2017)
Learning Resources
These are ordered alphabetically.
Professional Organisations
- British Association of Head and Neck Oncology Nurses
- British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists
- British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- British Laryngological Association
- ENT UK
Charities
- Cancer Research UK
- Get A-Head
- Irish Cancer Society
- Head and Neck Cancer UK
- Head and Neck Cancer Coalition
- Heads2gether support group
- Macmillan
- Maggie’s Centres
- Marie Curie
- Mouth Cancer Foundation
- National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs
- Oracle Cancer Trust
- Oral Health Foundation
- Salivary Gland Cancer UK
- Sarcoma UK
- Saving Faces UK
- Shout at Cancer
- The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Support Group
- Throat Cancer Foundation
- Web Whispers
- Young Tongues
Useful online resources
Competency frameworks
UK AHP competency frameworks relevant to head and neck
- Macmillan Allied Health Professional Competency Framework (Macmillan, 2017, updated 2020)
- Intensive Care Society AHP Professional Development Framework (ICS, 2018) and The SLT Pillar (ICS, 2021)
- Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England (HEE, 2017)
RCSLT frameworks and resources
Dysphagia
- Dysphagia Guidance
- Eating and drinking with acknowledged risks guidance (2021)
- Mouth care – Guidance (2021)
- Case study head and neck cancer (2021)
- Fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) – position paper (2021)
- Guidance for SLT-led endoscopic procedures in the context of COVID-19 (2021)
- Dysphagia Training and Competency Framework (2014)
- FEES competency framework (2020)
- Videofluoroscopy in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance for SLTs and service managers (2020)
- Videofluoroscopy competencies levels 1-4 2008
Critical care
- Critical care – guidance (2019)
- Guidelines for the provision of intensive care services – Intensive Care Society (2021)
- Critical Care Position statement: Adult and paediatric critical care units (2019)
End-of-life care
Laryngectomy
- Laryngectomy Position Paper – The role of the speech and language therapist (2023)
- Laryngectomy Competency Framework (2023)
Tracheostomy
Voice
Other frameworks and resources
- Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development (ACCEND) Programme and Framework
- Intensive Care Society AHP Professional Development Framework (ICS, 2018)
- Intensive Care Society The SLT Pillar (ICS, 2021)
- Macmillan Allied Health Professional Competency Framework (Macmillan, 2017, updated 2020)
- Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England (HEE, 2017)
- RCSLT Professional Development Framework
E-learning
RCSLT is not responsible for the content or updating of these online e-learning resources, but clinicians may find them useful. In addition, it may be worth looking at online webinars and training provided from manufacturers and suppliers of laryngectomy or tracheostomy products, but RCSLT does not endorse any particular products, brands, courses or training.
- Cancer Research UK E-Learning Modules
- Cancer Focus Northern Ireland online learning platform
- Health Education England elearning for healthcare
- Laryngectomy: rehabilitation and surgical voice restoration – Imperial College, London
- Macmillan Learning and Development Resources
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Knowledge Zone
- National Institute for Health and Care Research – NIHR Learn
- Understanding laryngectomy surgery to optimise swallowing and voice outcomes online course – Imperial College, London
Videos
- Care of laryngectomy – NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
- Laryngectomy surgical deconstruction – Margaret Coffey, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- Living life after laryngectomy – video that explores life after laryngectomy including stoma care
- Speech after laryngectomy – NALC education video for emergency services
- Speech Therapy and Voice Restoration after Cancer -Macmillan Cancer Support
- Swimming after laryngectomy
- Radiotherapy swallowing exercises– Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Understanding Laryngectomy and Tracheostomy – National Tracheostomy Safety Project
- Using an electrolarynx – National Tracheostomy Safety Project with Malcolm Babb, National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs (NALC)
- Video demonstrations of swallowing exercises – Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
- For more videos visit the RCSLT YouTube channel
Reporting templates
- Referral, assessment and reporting template for videofluoroscopy following total laryngectomy – Chesterfield Royal Hospital
- Videofluoroscopy assessment report – Barts Health NHS Trust
Service models
- As a result of member requests, the RCSLT has collated examples of how head and neck cancer SLT teams are innovating in a patient-centred way, with a specific focus on living with and beyond cancer and the personalised care programme. Below, you will find a range of example service structures and clinical initiatives, including how some teams are reaching out beyond the traditional hospital setting.
- If your team has developed an innovative service and you would like to share your service structure/ clinical initiative here, please fill in the blank templates below and send them through to info@rcslt.org.
- If you would be interested in finding out more about one of the case studies shared here, please contact: info@rcslt.org.
Case studies
- Case study – blank template (Word)
- Case study – example Laryngectomy community service (PDF)
- CHANT Community Tracheostomy Service (PDF)
- CHANT Community FEES Service (PDF)
- CHANT Surgical Voice Restoration (SVR) Service (PDF)
- CHANT Airway Visits for Tracheostomised and Laryngectomy patients (PDF)
- South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust (PDF)
- STH Neck Inpatient FEES Service (PDF)
- STH RT out of area radiotherapy reviews (PDF)
Service models
Awareness events
- World Cancer Day – 4 February
- European Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week – September
- Mouth Cancer Action month (November)
Related RCSLT resources
Specific resources
- Factsheet on supporting people with head and neck cancer (PDF)
- RCSLT factsheet on swallowing difficulties due to head and neck cancer (PDF)
