We analysed data from the National Cancer Diagnosis Audit (NCDA) for patients diagnosed with cancer in England in 2018 or 2014. We compared the cancer referral process from primary care before and after the publication of the National Institute of Care and Excellence’s (NICE) 2015 guidance on suspected cancer. This work was carried out in partnership with the National Disease Registration Service and the National Cancer Diagnosis Audit Methodology Group. Timely diagnosis of cancer is important for improving outcomes, and timely referral from primary care for those with symptoms supports this.
For patients diagnosed with cancer in 2018, compared with 2014, most measures of the diagnostic process had improved:
more patients were referred on the same day: 43% in 2018 vs 38% in 2014
the number of days from first presentation to the date of diagnosis was shorter: average of 36 days in 2018 vs 40 days in 2014
Fewer people had 3 or more pre-referral consultations: 19% of patients had three or more consultations in 2018 vs 26% in 2014
use of primary care investigations increased: 48% in 2018 vs 45% in 2014
more patients were urgently referred for suspected cancer: 55% in 2018 vs 52% in 2014
fewer patients had an emergency referral: 13% in 2018 vs around 17% in 2014
use of safety netting decreased: 40% in 2018 vs 44% in 2014
Urgent referrals are linked to earlier-stage diagnoses compared to emergency presentations, which can improve treatment options. It is important to ensure referral guidelines are supporting effective diagnosis.
Read in full on the BJGP websiteRuth Swann, Sean McPhail, Gary A Abel, Jana Witt, Lorna Wills, Sara Hiom, Georgios Lyratzopoulos, Greg Rubin.
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