Dear GP Colleagues,
Happy New Year to you all.
The Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) for Cancer will be introduced across London in April 2020. This is good news for our patients as it essentially means Trusts are required to work to this Standard and to inform all patients, referred under urgent suspected cancer pathway, whether they have cancer or not, within 28 days of the referral. This will invariably reduce the current long anxious waits patients experience, to be told whether they have cancer or not.
To enable this standard to be achieved for our patients, we need to work more collaboratively with our secondary care cancer service providers, by ensuring that when patients are referred, all the necessary information, including test results, are provided, and also by ensuring that the urgent suspected cancer referral form is fully and accurately completed. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to achieve this standard when the time comes in April 2020.
Follow this link to download the leaflet that explains Faster Diagnosis Standard in more detail, and what it means for you and your patients.
If you require any further information or clarification, do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
Dr. Sanomi
740