Effective Cancer management: framework

5. Optimal Diagnostics

Ensuring USC patients are effectively managed through the diagnostic element of the pathway is critical if the 62 day waiting times standard is to be met. Patients often require multiple, sometimes complex and invasive tests to determine whether they have cancer or not – this often requires input from Radiology, Endoscopy and Pathology Teams. There should be effective communication with the patient during the diagnostic phase of the pathway. Once fully implemented, Single Point of Contact (SPoC) will provide valuable support to patients and their families throughout the whole pathway. 5.1

5.1 Ensure all requests for diagnostic tests are made promptly to meet the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) timetable. Any investigations that require a pre-Covid-19 test must be arranged timeously in line with the agreed local process.

5.2 All diagnostic requests must be appropriate and clearly marked as USC. This enables Diagnostic Teams to prioritise their workload and ensure reports are available for the weekly Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings where patients' next steps are discussed and agreed by clinical experts.

5.3 The Cancer Management Team should actively monitor all diagnostic turnaround times, as agreed in the SOP.

5.4 The MDT Coordinator and/or Tracker must work closely with tumour specific Clinical Leads and Diagnostic Teams to ensure sufficient turnaround time for diagnostic reports, as required.

5.5 Diagnostic Teams should work in tandem with Cancer Management to explore where diagnostic tests can be coordinated, as opposed to being sequential. This can reduce the number of steps in a pathway and avoid patients having to travel to multiple appointments.

5.6 Ensure any national Covid-19 related guidance associated with diagnostic investigations are disseminated to relevant Clinical Teams and considered collectively alongside Cancer Management i.e. guidance for the use of qFIT in the prioritisation of patients with colorectal cancer.