Transforming Cancer Services Team newsletter: June 2023

Welcome to our June newsletter - highlighting the range of projects and programmes that the Transforming Cancer Services Team is currently working on in partnership with stakeholders to improve outcomes from cancer for Londoners and support the delivery of cancer services across London.

Key updates this time include: an introduction to our new brand and team identity; the launch of our FutureNHS workspace; new cancer data publications; our recent demand and capacity modelling project on imaging reporting in north central London; and some new education and training opportunities available to colleagues across London with an interest in cancer services.

Last year, TCST conducted a project on behalf of North Central London Integrated Care Board to understand the psychological impact of waiting for cancer tests and results for patients and their loved ones.

We are delighted that all recommendations from the project and the three year plan were endorsed by the North Central London Cancer Programme Board on 28 March 2023.

Liz Price, Senior Programme Manager and Dr Philippa Hyman, Associate Director have also presented the project at two conferences this Spring:

the British Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference in Cambridge on 22 March
the Oncology Professionals Conference in London on 24 May.

You can download copies of the final report and the focus group thematic report.

TCST has recently published the most recent USC Referral Analysis for London, which can be downloaded on our website.

The two-week urgent referral pathway for suspected cancer is a key part of NHS England’s national cancer strategy for achieving earlier diagnosis and improved survival rates in England. Highlights from the latest data show:

an 8% rise in the number of people seen urgently with a suspected cancer;
skin, breast and lower GI had the highest number of suspected cancer referrals in 2022;
4.9% of suspected cancer referrals were diagnosed with cancer.

TCST is currently supporting a pilot project for imaging reporting demand and capacity modelling across two NHS Trusts in North Central London (NCL): The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust and The Whittington Health NHS Trust. The pilot has focused on developing an approach to identify the capacity requirements for imaging reporting to support service planning improvements and reduce delays.

This pilot follows the success of a system level demand and capacity modelling project for imaging acquisition across NCL.

According to research by Macmillan Cancer Support, one in every four women don’t attend their cervical screening test, and London has some of the lowest rates in the country, standing at just 65.7% of eligible individuals (NHS Digital, 2021). The reasons for this can be varied, from a general lack of awareness about cervical screening through to concern about the test itself or a potential diagnosis.

19-24 June is Cervical Screening Awareness Week, raising the profile of the important role of cervical screening in early diagnosis, treatment and improved patient outcomes.

July is Sarcoma Awareness Month, with the focus this year being on early diagnosis and improving treatment options for people living with and beyond bone and soft tissue cancers.

We’ve been continuing our work in supporting the London and South East Sarcoma Network’s (LSESN) clinical advisory group and London Region Specialised Commissioning team to develop the soft tissue sarcoma diagnostic pathway and improve outcomes for patients diagnosed with bone and soft tissue cancers. A key part of this work is ensuring that the pathway meets the diverse needs of patients and reducing variations in access to treatment and services.