Rapid cancer diagnostic network improves outcomes

Led by the University of Strathclyde and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, the evaluation reports that more than one in ten patients seen by these services have been referred for cancer treatment.

First established in 2020 with the aim of speeding up cancer diagnoses for patients with non-specific symptoms, the RCDS are so far delivering “high quality care”.

The researchers report that, on average, patients waited 14 days from referral to having cancer ruled out or confirmed.

Over the two-year evaluation period the services saw 2,489 patients, with more than 96% of them giving the service a positive satisfaction rating of eight or more out of 10.

Mr Martin Downey, NHS Lanarkshire Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service Clinical Lead and Associate Medical Director for Access, said:

“The Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service offers a timely, often one-stop, environment for clinically complex patients with potentially serious non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer, such as weight loss, fatigue, nausea and abdominal pain.

“These patients typically did not meet the criteria for existing cancer pathways and the service makes a positive difference to these patients, providing rapid patient centred assessment, diagnosis and coordination of ongoing care.”

Of all patients seen during this evaluation, 11.9% were diagnosed with cancer while 6% were given a pre-cancer diagnosis, meaning they require further monitoring in case a cancer develops.

The remaining patients were evenly distributed between diagnosis with other non-cancerous conditions and being given the ‘all clear’ and returning to follow up support in primary care.

Visiting NHS Lanarkshire’s Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service, Scotland’s new Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, said the services reflect the government’s commitment to equitable cancer care:

“Improving cancer services is a priority for the Scottish government, as set out in our 10-year strategy published last year.

“This positive evaluation of Scotland's Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service provides valuable insight into their role in achieving vital earlier cancer diagnoses and improving patient care.

“RCDSs reflect our commitment to enhancing equitable cancer services across NHS Scotland - this report has shown the pivotal role they can play in early cancer detection while delivering quality patient-centred care. As Scotland's cancer care continues to evolve, RCDSs stand as an essential component in improving outcomes.”

The report highlighted that the model delivers a ‘quality service at speed’ as well as being cost effective compared to previous pathways.

Moreover, the services were highly valued by both patients and staff.

Positive patient experience has been attributed to the speed of referral, reduced waiting times for diagnostic tests, and a single point of contact with enhanced information and communication throughout the RCDS pathway.

Professor Robert van der Meer, co-lead author of the RCDS Evaluation, University of Strathclyde, said:

“Scotland’s Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services are working well. They’re achieving what they set out to do – find cancer – while delivering a high standard of quality care at speed.

“RCDS patients are complex and the specialist input that the RCDS can offer them, and concerned primary care clinicians, marks a gear-change in how we diagnose cancer in Scotland.

“RCDSs should be used as an exemplar for cancer care with learning embedded across all pathways.”

Scotland’s 2023-2033 cancer strategy commits to growing the RCDS network beyond NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Dumfries & Galloway, NHS Fife, NHS Borders and NHS Lanarkshire.

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Tags: Cancer; Data; Data; Diagnostics; GP & Community; NHSScotland; Pathways, Waiting times, Performance; Public Health & Prevention; Research & Innovation.