Overview
The SELCA SACT Demand & Capacity Tool is a comprehensive Excel-based planning model designed to help NHS trusts optimise their SACT (Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy) service capacity.
The tool supports operational decision-making, workforce planning and business case development by providing a practical, data-driven comparison of:
- Demand: measured in scheduled appointment length and clinical time required to deliver the activity.
- Capacity: physical chairs and available clinical workforce.
Initially designed for Cancer Day Unit (CDU) planning, the tool forms part of a wider strategy to strengthen workforce and capacity planning across chemotherapy services. Plans are in place to expand the tool further by developing additional aseptic and clinical pharmacy modules, which will be integrated into the main framework and made available in the near future. These modules will provide a more comprehensive view of service interdependencies across the full SACT pathway.
Who Is The Tool For?
The Tool is designed for:
- Service Managers planning CDU capacity and workforce
- Cancer Alliance Leads supporting trusts across their network
- Operational Teams optimising day-to-day service delivery
- Finance Teams developing business cases for investment
- Clinical Leaders ensuring safe, sustainable service provision
Users should have basic Excel skills and access to local activity and workforce data.
Outputs
The tool provides multiple views to support different planning needs:
- Historic demand trends to understand long-term patterns
- Current demand vs capacity using recent data
- Predicted growth modelling to identify future capacity risks
- Scenario planning for service changes (e.g. new drugs, additional chairs or staff)
How To Request The Tool
NHS trusts can request the tool for free alongside a how to use guide. To request a copy of the tool please complete the request form here.
Requests are reviewed to ensure appropriate use and support. When you request access, you will receive:
- The SELCA SACT Demand & Capacity Tool (Excel)
- A User & Training Guide
- Clear instructions on:
- Data requirements
- Assumptions used in the model
- How to interpret outputs
- Guidance on scenario modelling and planning use.
Experience, Peer Support & Ongoing Collaboration
Once the tool has been rolled out across multiple trusts - creating a growing community of practice - SELCA will support shared learning by:
- Running a small number of regular seminars for Trusts using the SELCA SACT Demand & Capacity Tool. Individual Trust support will not be available.
- These sessions will provide:
- Peer support and shared learning
- Discussion of challenges and solutions
- Examples of how Trusts are using outputs locally
- Opportunities to ask questions and sense-check assumptions
If you would like to attend these sessions, please express your interest in the form above.
© 2025 Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and NHS South East London Integrated Care Board. All rights reserved. This Excel tool and its accompanying materials (collectively the “Tool”) are the intellectual property of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (“GSTT”). The Tool may not be copied, shared, edited, reverse-engineered, or used to create modified versions without GSTT’s prior written permission.The Tool is provided free of charge, “as is,” for internal planning and decision-support purposes only. GSTT gives no guarantee as to accuracy, completeness, or fitness for purpose, and accepts no liability for any use of the Tool or reliance on its outputs. Users are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of all data entered and for validating outputs with local clinical and operational leads before using them in planning, reporting, or decision-making. By downloading the Tool, you agree to these terms.