Service update

8 January 2021: Cancer Service Provision in NCL

Covid-related pressures are increasing, but cancer diagnostic and treatment services are being maintained. Patients may experience delays, but are safer on a tracked waiting list than waiting at home.

The NCL Cancer Alliance seeks the support of the NCL primary care community in the following ways:

• Patients with worrying symptoms should be encouraged to contact their GP for advice
• Any patients with suspected cancer should continue to be referred for urgent diagnosis: eReferrals are being triaged so may not be bookable directly
• Cancer screening programmes are also staying open: people should continue to be encouraged to take up screening invitations
• Patients waiting for a diagnosis or with diagnosed cancers should be encouraged to attend appointments at hospital, as trusts have measures in place shown to mitigate the risks of Covid-19 infection

If the situation changes, the NCL Cancer Alliance will ensure that appropriate communications are sent to general practices.

Healthy London Partnership Covid-19 Cancer Referral Resources

Some suspected cancer pathways have been CHANGED in response to Covid-19.  Revised guidance and updated 2WW referral forms have been implemented for certain cancers. 

For the latest Covid-19 related news on cancer referrals and treatment see the Cancer section on the NCL Covid-19 GP intranet. The information is not repeated on this website.

See the Imaging topic page, for details of the single suspected cancer imaging referral form now in use across all NCL providers.

Please remember GPs can refer direct to hospitals for urgent diagnostics and consider this instead of 2WW. For a full breakdown of where and how to refer, read this guide. 

The Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Centre (GI cancer) is going well. Please continue to refer.

GP one-to-one practice support: cancer research faciliator

Cancer Research UK is able to visit practices individually as and when needed to share the latest local cancer data, provide training and tools on key topics such as cancer screening. Islington’s facilitator Christine Harding is able discuss new NICE guidance with valuable resources, support the completion of SEAs and audits. GPs will be able to review surgery safety netting processes and best practice.

Please contact Christine for further information and/or to set up a visit:

e:Christine.Harding@cancer.org.uk

Cancer education 

View the Cancer Education page for learning resources and referral guides.