By developing 'rapid diagnostics' our aim is to help diagnose people with cancer and other conditions as soon as possible by speeding up the time between first noticing signs and symptoms, seeking advice and being diagnosed – all leading to being treated sooner.
Together with expert clinicians across services, we are looking at what improvements could be made, how we could work differently or use new technologies so that people are supported to make appointments, are referred to the most appropriate service and are diagnosed with cancer, or the reassurance that they don’t have cancer, sooner.
We want to make services more person-centred; reduce the amount of appointments by having more same day, same location tests and a single, named contact for support throughout a person’s diagnostic journey.
By making services more efficient, not only do we help patients but we also improve ways of working for staff; improve communication between hospital specialists and primary care services and reducing waits and duplication.
We also hope to reduce health inequalities, which have been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, by supporting communities most affected by poor health to seek medical help, with clear communication and support to attend appointments, help understand their diagnosis and support them to agree a treatment plan.
The role of the SYB ICS Cancer Alliance in supporting the development of rapid diagnostics
The South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw ICS Cancer Alliance, working as part of the wider Integrated Care System, is leading on this work across Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
Around 90% of people referred for diagnostics do not have a cancer so by providing a faster diagnosis, we can remove the worry of cancer for many people earlier and ensure they are referred to the most relevant place for their care, treatment or condition management.
This is a five year programme and by the end of 2024/25 we aim to be providing faster diagnoses across each of our cancer services with some system-wide solutions where it makes sense to do so – for example, by exploring System-wide virtual ways of working, developing System-wide advice and guidance to support clinicians with referrals and decision making and supporting the development of Patient Navigator roles – people employed by each of our hospitals to provide individual support to people throughout their investigations and diagnosis.
Expert clinicians across cancer services – from primary care and our hospitals – are working together, as well as health and care staff from our five Places of Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield to support the delivery of rapid diagnostics.
All partners are working together as part of an RDS Development Group to share learning, insights and developments as the programme progresses.
What has happened at a System level so far?
Next steps
There is some national funding available to support the programme. Funding allocation for this year (2021/22) has been guided by a set of agreed principles, one of which is ensuring that decisions are considered by the Patient Advisory Board. Other principles include ensuring transparent decision making, focusing on early diagnosis and reducing health inequalities, and acting in the spirit of collaborative working (as a System rather than as individual organisations or Places).
The areas currently identified for funding by Board are as follows:
By 2024 the programme will achieve full population coverage across England for non-specific symptom pathways and be applying the RDC pathway principles to every site-specific symptom pathway
Learn more about the national programme here.
Follow us on social media: @CanAlliance_SYB
The Targeted Lung Health Programme is undergoing a name change to become Lung Cancer Screening in a bid to reduce any potential confusion on what is involved and increase participation.
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