Removing hospital-based triage from suspected colorectal cancer pathways: the impact and learning from a primary care-led electronic straight-to-test pathway

Removing hospital-based triage from suspected colorectal cancer pathways: the impact and learning from a primary care-led electronic straight-to-test pathway
BMJ Quality & Safety 11 June 2020. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009975

• An electronic straight to test pathway for suspected colorectal cancer was introduced allowing GPs to book tests supported by a decision aid based on NICE guidance eliminating the need for a standard referral form or triage process. 
• Analysis of 11357 patients over 3 years found  that time from referral to diagnosis reduced from 39 to 21 days and led to a dramatic improvement in patients starting treatment within 62 days. Challenges included adapting to a change in referral criteria and developing a robust hospital system to monitor the pathway.

Abstract

Commissioning and delivery toolkit for cancer as a long-term condition

Commissioning and delivery toolkit for cancer as a long-term condition
Healthy London June 2018

• Resources for London STPs to use to commission and deliver the 4 Point Cancer Care Reviews Model in primary care for people living with and beyond cancer. It triggers the support patients reportedly need following a diagnosis of cancer, to self-manage to the best of their ability.

National Cancer Diagnosis audit

Diagnosing cancer in primary care: results from the National Cancer Diagnosis Audit
Br J Gen Pract 18 December 2017

• Data were collected on 17042 patients with a new diagnosis of cancer during 2014 from 439 practices. The median diagnostic interval for all patients was 40 days. Most patients were referred promptly. Where GPs deemed diagnostic delays to have occurred (22% of cases), patient, clinician, or system factors were responsible in 26%, 28%, and 34% of instances, respectively.