Home / Health / Cancer treatment fast-tracked: Nurse-led pilot succeeds
Cancer treatment fast-tracked: Nurse-led pilot succeeds
9 Sep
Summary
- New nurse-led pathway enables rapid skin cancer treatment.
- Patient had mole checked and surgery within four weeks.
- Pilot program aims to reduce waiting times for suspected cancers.
A groundbreaking initiative at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital is significantly accelerating skin cancer treatment. The new nurse-led pathway allows patients to move from an initial telephone consultation to surgery within weeks, often bypassing the need for a face-to-face consultant appointment.
This innovative service was developed by lead cancer nurse Lucy Smith to ensure prompt assessment and treatment for individuals with suspected cancer. After an initial online assessment via teledermatology, patients are directed to the most appropriate care route. Simple excisions that require urgent removal are prioritized through the nurse-led pathway, ensuring timely intervention.
A four-month pilot program, running from June to October last year, successfully treated 80 patients. Of these, a notable 70% were diagnosed with skin cancer, pre-cancerous changes, or abnormal moles. The service is now managing approximately 40 to 50 patients monthly, demonstrating its ongoing impact on reducing treatment delays.
