“What’s been really unique about all the Pelican programmes over the years, including OReCO is their Multi-Disciplinary management of cancer. In real life we have MDTs where we have specialists Nurses, Radiologists, Pathologists, Oncologists and Surgeons all working together to do what’s best for the patient and by involving all those disciplines together we are able to improve rectal cancer care in a Multi-disciplinary way, because the OReCO programme uses all the members of the MDT together, it really does bring a more holistic perspective to what we can do to rectal cancer and improve patient care. “ Click here to find out more
Miss Amy Lord, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Pelican Research & Education Consultant
Pelican Cancer Foundation in collaboration with The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain & Ireland are currently delivering Pelican OReCO (Optimising Rectal Cancer Outcomes), a national colorectal Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) workshop for colorectal MDTs in GB and Ireland.
Pelican OReCO aims to:
- Raise awareness on current optimal management of rectal cancer with a focus on surgical techniques.
- Ensure more consistent processes across all colorectal MDTs to support individual patients’.
- Help all patients have the best treatment, at the best time in the best place.
This programme commenced in January 2024 and will run until December 2026 and is comprised of 20 one day workshops throughout the UK – 120 hospitals will be involved with 2,000 doctors and nurses attending. We are confident that this programme will be as warmly received as our last national programme (IMPACT) and will not only improve survival rates for bowel cancer patients, but also help patients gain a better quality of life following their treatment.
Putting patients at the centre of this innovative programme, the interactive workshops will focus on the management of rectal cancer with discussions around a number of patient case studies. Expert clinicians will discuss the patient’s pathway for optimal diagnosis and treatment of rectal cancer.
Pelican Cancer Foundation are funding places for clinicians including Surgeons, Radiologists, Pathologists, Medical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists and Clinical Nurse Specialists.
By attending a Pelican OReCO workshop, clinicians will have the opportunity to discuss complex cases, share experience and uncertainty on the optimal therapy for patients and learn from others to raise standards across all colorectal MDTs in Great Britain and Ireland.
There has been tremendous enthusiasm and support for Pelican workshops and previous programmes have been highly rated by Colorectal Cancer MDTs all over GB and Ireland. The focus of Pelican workshops has been on bringing together people who manage complex colorectal diagnostic and management decisions at face-to-face workshops.
Previous Pelican workshops have helped to refine treatment and improve outcomes and the principles and concepts of these workshops have been replicated in part, or in whole, in many parts of the world.
“The OReCO (Optimising Rectal Cancer Outcomes) programme is in full swing and 2024 has been a successful start to this National Cancer Improvement Initiative. The enthusiasm at the workshops has been palpable with very positive feedback from the multidisciplinary teams who have attended. The programme has gained national prominence as an excellent educational initiative and will improve outcomes for patients all over Great Britain and Ireland. OReCO is achieving its aims and is a launching pad for the next Pelican Programme which will focus on Optimal Radiological Imaging to further enhance patient outcomes”.
Mr Brendan Moran, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
and OReCO Clinical Lead
