National Audit

Plans released

16 October 2024

The British Association of Head & Neck Oncologists (BAHNO) is the United Kingdom’s leading association for the broadest team of clinicians responsible for care of Head & Neck patients. BAHNO is the driving force behind the National H&N Cancer Audit seeking to address the lack of data suitable to help adress the urgent crisis in head and neck cancer care.

BAHNO has joined forces with charities and medical specialists including the Head & Neck Cancer Coalition (which includes Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK), the British Association of Head & Neck Oncology Nurses (BAHNON), ENT-UK, North West Cancer Research (NWCR), the National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs, Get-A-Head Charity and Restorative Dentistry UK (RD-UK). This outstanding support from our charitable collaborators provides the foundation for a comprehensive review of current care.

A planned two-year review aims to identify key areas for improvement in diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes and will be led by Dr Thomas Cowling, associate professor in health services research and clinical epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Why an audit is needed:

Professor Vin Paleri, Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon at The Royal Marsden Hospitals, began working for this project when he was President of BAHNO. He says: “The lack of a comprehensive national audit for head and neck cancers over the past decade is unacceptable. This process is long overdue and absolutely critical.

“As clinicians, we need this data to drive best practices, reduce treatment disparities, define research strategies and ultimately save lives. Head and neck cancers are uniquely devastating, impacting patients’ ability to speak, eat, and interact socially. We have a responsibility to ensure every patient receives timely, optimal care.

Tamara Kahn, CEO of Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK, says: “The news about treatment waiting times highlights the need for immediate action. This review will help address the disparities in care across the UK and ultimately improve thousands of lives.”

* First constituted in 1967, the British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists (BAHNO) was formed following recognition of a need to encourage discussion and the sharing of knowledge between the various clinical and research specialties involved in the management of head and neck cancer.

Head and neck cancer is the generic term used for a group of malignant tumours that affect areas such as the face, mouth, jaws, sinuses, throat, larynx, salivary glands, thyroid gland and neck. Treatment is often complex and requires the cooperation of a number of medical, paramedical and nursing specialists. It is the sixth most common cancer in the world. Within the UK around 11,700 new head and neck cancers are reported per year (i.e. 32 per day). Their frequency and incidence is continually increasing with a 31% increase since the early 1990s and around 3,900 deaths in the UK every year (i.e. 11 per day) (Cancer Research, UK).

Although we have strong links with the relevant individual medical and allied healthcare specialty associations, we are the only multi-disciplinary professional group able to speak for the interests of head and neck cancer clinicians and patients in the UK.

We pursue our aims chiefly by holding regular scientific meetings and have produced important publications relating to the organisation of head and neck cancer services in the United Kingdom.

Membership of BAHNO is open to all specialists with a major interest in head and neck oncology.

Our members are principally:

Otorhinolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat surgeons)
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (mouth, jaw and face surgeons)
Plastic surgeons
Pathologists
Research scientists
Clinical oncologists
Therapeutic radiographers
Restortive dentists
Specialist nurses
Dietitians
Speech and swallowing therapists

Currently we have approximately 500 members, including a number from overseas. Further details of BAHNO’s aims and activities can be obtained by contacting the Secretariat.

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