Members of 10 multidisciplinary cancer teams completed an Informational Roles Questionnaire measuring an individual’s perception of their major role and that of their colleagues in giving information to patients.They also completed the General Health Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory. The information giving roles of the surgeon, oncologist, radiologist and clinical nurse specialist were well recognized by their colleagues; however, other team members’ roles were more ambiguous and less well understood. High levels of emotional exhaustion were particularly apparent in team leaders and nurses, and feelings of low levels of personal accomplishment were prevalent in the histopathologists and radiologists. Putative benefits to patients and healthcare professionals from multidisciplinary team working may not be realized without investment in team training.