Whipps Cross University Hospital has joined a scheme to cut the time NHS patients wait for prostate cancer treatment.

The hospital will be teaming up with King George, Barts and the Royal London, and other north east London hospitals to implement a programme which has already been successfully undertaken in more than 50 trial areas.

Each hospital within the North East London Cancer Network is focusing on one area of cancer services.

Whipps Cross aims to optimise prostate cancer services by improving the service for patients and carers as well as reducing waiting times.

The findings from this project will serve as a model for other hospitals in the network.

North East Collaborative programme manager Rizwana Altaf said Whipps Cross urology nurse specialist John O'Neil and urology surgeon John Hines will be leading the efforts.

"They want to set up a pilot one-stop prostate assessment clinic where the consultation and first biopsy can be taken within one appointment. Currently, to have a biopsy, the wait could be up to two months."

The Whipps Cross collaborative team hope that after the initial appointment at the prostate assessment clinic, the follow-up meeting will be made for the week after through a pre-booking system.

The subsequent appointments will also be pre-booked offering patient certainty and choice as they progress through the system.

This new service, and many others being introduced across the country, is the result of a 7.5m Department of Health investment into the expansion of improved cancer service coordination.

October 23, 2001 11:00