Chief Executive, Professor Jann Gardner, and colleagues from the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service (RCDS) were delighted to host a visit from Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care.
The Cabinet Secretary heard from clinical staff and patients about the positive impact the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service is having.
Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive, said: “The implementation and early success of the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service is a significant leap forward in healthcare, demonstrating the power of innovation in saving lives and enhancing patient care.
“The Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service is a testament to our commitment to introducing new ways of working in our pursuit of better healthcare outcomes for the people we serve.”
More than one in ten patients seen by new cancer diagnostic services have been referred for cancer treatment, helping to speed up treatment and improve outcomes. Patients waited an average of 14 days from referral, to having cancer ruled in or out.
The Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services, currently in place across five health board areas, were established to help speed up cancer diagnoses for patients with non-specific symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, persistent nausea or fatigue, where the GP has a concern of a malignancy.
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 out of 10 or more.
Positive patient experience is attributed to the speed of referral, reduction in waiting times for diagnostic tests, having a single point of contact and enhanced information and communication throughout the RCDS pathway.
Visiting NHS Lanarkshire’s RCDS at University Hospital Wishaw, Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “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.”
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. The Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service is an exemplar for cancer care and the learning can be embedded across all cancer pathways.”
