NHS England has announced that ’skin snaps’ and rapid tests for same day diagnosis are among a package of measures to get more people checked for cancer.
The NHS is investing £20 million to speed up the rollout of these plans, so that thousands more people can get potentially lifesaving cancer checks. The NHS Long Term Plan committed to catching three quarters of cancers early, when they are easier to treat, up from half at present.
‘Teledermatology’ is being used to diagnose skin cancer faster, with pictures taken by a medical photographer sent to hospitals so diagnosis and treatment can happen quickly. The technology has already been used in Leeds, York and Mid-Yorkshire – with a doctor reviewing an image of the patient’s skin for diagnosis.
New efforts to speed up diagnosis for prostate cancer are also seeing patients referred directly for an MRI scan by nurses, rather than having to wait for an appointment with a consultant. This has reduced multiple visits to a single visit, with all diagnostic tests carried out on the same day.
The funding will also include a boost for nurse-led ‘lumps and bumps clinics’ that will offer examinations and same day ultrasounds, and a cancer symptom hotline, which will see nurses give patients advice about concerning cancer symptoms and make referrals over the phone.
Dame Cally Palmer, NHS National Director for Cancer, said: “The NHS has prioritised cancer treatment throughout the coronavirus pandemic and, alongside caring for 405,000 people with coronavirus in hospitals and delivering over 65 million vaccines, more than 350,000 people have also started treatment for cancer since it began.
“We know that some patients did not come forward but, thanks to the huge efforts of our staff, we’re seeing referral and treatment levels recover.
“From cancer symptom hotlines to skin snaps and rapid triage, NHS staff are once again going to great lengths to ensure that those who are coming forward for checks can continue to be seen quickly, so that cancer can be caught at an earlier stage.”
