‘One-stop shops’ plan for fast cancer care

NEW “ONE-STOP shops” to speed up cancer diagnosis are being trialled in the country for the first time.

GPs can refer patients suffering from “vague” symptoms including unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain and fatigue to assessment centres including at Airedale General Hospital, near Keighley, to undergo multiple tests for different cancers.

The initiative aims to ensure a quick diagnosis in those not showing “alarm” signs for a specific type of cancer, NHS England said.

Some patients will be able to receive a definitive diagnosis or be given the all-clear on the same day, while others may require further tests but should receive a final result within two weeks.

The scheme, co-ordinated by NHS England, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, is being piloted in 10 areas.

Cally Palmer, national director for cancer at NHS England, said: “Early diagnosis is crucial to saving lives and providing peace of mind for patients, which is why we are driving forward plans to revolutionise our approach to cancer in this country. These new one-stop shops represent a real step change in the way people with unclear symptoms are identified, diagnosed and treated.”

Patients with unexplained weight loss, appetite loss, abdominal discomfort or pain, fatigue, sweating or who feel generally unwell could be referred to the service.

The symptoms, alone or combined, can indicate a number of diseases including cancer.

NHS trusts in England were forced to cancel hundreds of cancer operations throughout the winter, according to a survey of trusts.

A poll of 81 acute NHS trusts found that 43 had cancelled at least one cancer operation between December and February, according to a survey by the Health Service Journal (HSJ).

Macmillan Cancer Support warned that delays could affect a patient’s chances of survival.

Hospitals in England were told to delay pre-planned operations and routine outpatient appointments throughout January owing to severe winter pressures.

But NHS England said cancer operations and time-critical procedures should go ahead as planned.

However, HSJ found that trusts had cancelled at least 500 cancer operations during the winter period.

Across those 43 trusts that said they had cancelled procedures, 530 operations were cancelled,

HSJ found. The Journal said this figure did include some diagnostic procedures such as biopsies.

Macmillan Cancer Support’s executive director of policy and impact Fran Woodard said: “Depending on the type of operation, a delay could mean that the cancer not only progresses in that time but that the chances of survival are also affected.”

An NHS England spokesman said: “NHS hospitals treated 2,615 more cancer patients this January than last January.”