Gynaecology
The RM Partners Gynaecology Cancer Pathway Group has a key focus on ensuring equity of access and services. The group consists of clinicians and operational managers involved in the care and treatment of all gynaecological cancers – cervical, endometrial, ovarian, vaginal and vulval – from across our partner organisations.
The group provides expert oversight and clinical advice to improve service delivery and patient outcomes across the Alliance for all gynaecological cancer patients. This work includes:
- Identifying areas for service development or improvement
- Implementing NHS England best practice timed pathways
- Developing local strategies to improve faster diagnosis
- Embedding national guidance and quality standards
The group is working on a number of service improvements, including implementation of new national guidance on low-risk referrals, one stop clinics, and new workforce models.
Best practice timed pathways
NHS England has been developing best practice timed pathways for a range of cancers. These are intended to support on-going efforts to shorten diagnostic pathways, reduce variation, improve patient experience of care, and provide models of care to support the Faster Diagnosis Standard.
Currently, work is being undertaken by the group to improve existing gynaecological cancer pathways in north west and south west London by developing one stop or ‘straight to test’ pathways to support more timely diagnosis and treatment pathways.
In 2023, in collaboration with London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, RM Partners piloted one stop clinics for patients referred on the urgent suspected gynaecological cancer pathway, with a focus on suspected endometrial cancer. This has since been embedded as business as usual. With this pathway, patients are triaged into a one stop expedited clinic where all relevant diagnostic tests and consultations are offered to take place on the same day.
Workforce
As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, RM Partners is supporting the training and development of nurses in six partner Trusts to independently deliver gynaecological diagnostics, with a focus on hysteroscopy. The aim is to implement a nurse-delivered outpatient hysteroscopy list in these organisations by 2025/2026.
For more information, please contact RM Partners gynaecology project manager Toks Magbagbeola, Toks.Magbagbeola@nhs.net