Gynaecological Cancers Optimal Pathway Group
The group provides strategic oversight to improve gynaecological cancer outcomes and patient experience across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. By taking a whole pathway and system wide approach, the group implements and supports:
- Urgent responses to pressures that have recently occurred due to COVID-19.
- National cancer priorities outlined in the in the NHS 5 Year Forward View and NHS Long Term Plan (screening, early diagnosis, delivery of Rapid Diagnostic Services and personalised care interventions).
- The development and updating of local clinical guidelines.
The group meet three times a year, culminating in an educational event, where shared learning and best practice is presented to a wider networked audience.
The group has delivered the following projects to date:
- Standardised the two-week wait suspected cancer referral criteria across the region, to ensure all referrals into secondary care are of consistently high quality and patients are prioritised and seen within the allotted timeframe.
- An educational event took place in November 2019 which brought together clinicians and other allied health professionals to improve Gynaecological cancer outcomes in West Yorkshire & Harrogate. The programme of speakers for the event can be found here
- The Living With and Beyond Cancer team have completed a baseline audit with Trusts to inform and support delivery of the following - ‘Personalised Stratified Follow Up (PSFU) interventions’, ‘End of Treatment Summaries’, as well as delivery of Supported Self-Management (SSM) for people living with and beyond Gynaecological cancers.
Current priority target areas for the group are:
- Ensure local guidelines are reviewed and updated in line with the publication of recent regional guidance, as well as the introduction of a new chapter on the management of 50+ BMI patients with multiple medical co-morbidities for the WY&H region.
- Reach agreement for the implementation of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society (BGCS) recommendations for patient initiated follow up (PIFU) across WY&H.
- Implement the National Best Practice Gynaecology Diagnostic Pathway across all Trusts – including a baseline assessment of Trust’s current pathway against the best practice clinical milestones and associated timings
- To support the recovery of the system through building on current networks, sharing best practice, expertise, and approaches across the region.
- To progress a gynaecology CNS case workload audit as part of a wider workforce review by Health Education England
- To progress the development of a standardised Alliance MDT Standard of Care/ protocol
- Establish the role of prehab for patients on the gynaecology pathway and evidence the impact of the local pilots on workforce capacity
If you require further information, please contact the Optimal Pathways team by emailing optimal.pathways@nhs.net.
For the calendar of meetings and events, please click here
