General Practitioner (GP) - Acute Diagnostic Oncology Clinic

Job overview

Rapid Diagnostic Centres The NHS Long Term plan has set out a vision to transform cancer care, with an aim to improve five year survival figures for patients diagnosed with cancer and to diagnose three in four cancers at an early stage.

As part of this strategy, NHS England and NHS Improvement have mandated the provision of at least one Rapid Diagnostic Centre (RDC) in each Cancer Alliance.

These centres are primarily focussed on assessing patients with non-site-specific symptoms that are worrisome for a new cancer diagnosis and are to operate on seven key components.

RM Partners, the West London Cancer Alliance, are supporting the development of Rapid Diagnostic Centres across West London. In this geography, the RDC model combines both specialist and generalist clinical input to ensure a holistic approach to diagnostics for patients presenting with nonsite specific symptoms. At the heart of this team, is a GP with a specialist interest in Oncology.

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic General Practitioner (GP) with an interest in cancer, and cancer diagnostics, to join the RDC team. This is a very unique role with an excellent opportunity to build a portfolio in secondary care, develop a cancer interest and be at the centre of exciting research and developments in cancer diagnostics.

Applications are welcome for 2 PAs (1 day).

Main duties of the job

Rapid Diagnostic Centres (RDCs) form part of NHS England’s Cancer strategy to deliver faster and earlier diagnosis of cancer, as well as an improved patient experience. They provide a single point of access pathway for patients with signs and symptoms that could indicate a new diagnosis of cancer.

RDCs provide a symptom-based approach to patient referral. This is in contrast to existing suspected 2 week wait cancer referral pathways that focus on tumour-specific disease.

A significant proportion of patients with cancer in the UK general practice present with more vague, non-specific symptoms, and can wait up to 34 days longer to diagnose compared to patients with typical ‘red flag’ symptoms.

The RDC service model framework therefore sets out to have the following key components: early identification, timely referral, broad assessment of symptoms, co-ordinated testing, timely diagnosis of patients’ symptoms, appropriate onward referral.

The GP would work 4 sessions (2 days) or 2 sessions (1 day) per week in the RDC.

See attached Job Description for key roles and responsibilities.

Please note: This post will be based in our Acute Diagnostic Oncology Clinic (ADOC) at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, but may have the opportunity and requirement to also work at the ADOC at West Middlesex.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The key roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

To actively participate in the smooth running of the RDC by:

- Assessing patients referred to the RDC and perform appropriate investigations to help establish a diagnosis, under supervision of the Clinical Lead. - Communicating back the outcomes of the patient interaction to the referring GP. - Providing support to the administrative team and CNS in triaging referrals to the RDC. - Actively participating in the local RDC multi-disciplinary meeting (MDM), as well as attending other appropriate MDMs as required. - Troubleshooting issues within the RDC team. To accurately record the minimum data set required by RM Partners and NHSE. To participate in audit activities and engage with RM Partners research projects To ensure keeping of accurate and contemporaneous records To participate in regular appraisal of performance and training needs To participate in education and training activities

Please refer to our detailed job description for more information