Not all symptoms that patients go to see their GP about are straightforward.
For patients with vague, but concerning, symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss or painless jaundice, it can be difficult to refer them to the most appropriate tests quickly.
As a result, these patients often get sent back and forth between GP and hospital, until a diagnosis can be made.
To help these patients and to speed up diagnosis, UCLH Cancer Collaborative is currently piloting three multidisciplinary diagnostic centres (MDC) across the region for patients with vague symptoms that could indicate cancer.
The three MDCs are currently at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and UCLH (University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust).
MDCs are an integral part of achieving both the standards of the new 28-day faster diagnosis plan, as outlined by the Independent Cancer Taskforce and the wider investment in greater diagnostic capacity outlined in the Five Year Forward View ‘Next Steps’ Plan earlier this year.
Watch our video to find out more about MDCs:
Visit our webpage for more information, including the type of ‘vague’ symptoms that may be appropriate for referral to an MDC: www.uclh.nhs.uk/cancercollabMDC
Dr Andrew Millar, consultant gastroenterologist at North Middlesex and MDC project lead, said: “Diagnosing cancer early saves lives, as the sooner we can start treatment, the better the outlook for the patient. “When a patient has vague symptoms, this often initially doesn't indicate a particular type of cancer, so it can be difficult to make sure that they get access to the right tests quickly. We are speeding up earlier diagnosis across our region by piloting multidisciplinary diagnostic centres at three hospitals for patients who have vague, but worrying, symptoms. At these centres, patients can receive the right tests quickly and, if they do have cancer, get access to the right treatment.”