A digital pathway for prostate cancer that was developed by teams within NHS Ayrshire & Arran has had such successful results that it is now being adopted by other Health Boards in Scotland.
The pathway, which was developed by the Urology Oncology Service and the Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Digital Services teams, has reduced patients’ waiting times for results by almost three weeks and freed up around 500 hours a year for the NHS staff involved in their care.
Nicola Graham, Director of Infrastructure and Support Services, explains: “The prostate cancer pathway has been developed to support patients who have received treatment for prostate cancer. For ten years after treatment these patients are monitored and have blood tests to check their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Before the pathway, these results could take several weeks to reach the patient in a letter – we know that this was usually a very anxious wait for them. Now, using the pathway, patients receive their result in around 48 hours either by email, text message or an automated call – whichever they prefer.
“If the results are satisfactory, they still have the option to raise concerns and are offered more information and signposting to self-management resources, as well as the opportunity to request a call back to discuss any issues they have with a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). If the results are unsatisfactory, they will be contacted the same day to arrange a further appointment and to discuss the next steps – much earlier intervention than was possible before.
“Patient feedback has been excellent, with many praising the ease and speed of the system. With the digital pathway patients have the reassurance of a single point of contact and digitally enabled support which means less unnecessary appointments, waiting and worry.”
The introduction of this service in Ayrshire and Arran has created capacity within the urology service, freeing up staff to spend more time with patients who have just been diagnosed or those who are unwell or have more complex cases.
There are currently around 700 patients signed up to the prostate cancer digital pathway in Ayrshire and Arran. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Forth Valley are now adopting the pathway, with other NHS Boards in Scotland also interested.
The pathway and the teams involved in developing ithave been shortlisted for two award categories at this year’s Holyrood’s Digital Health and Care Awards – the Data Driven Innovation Award and the Digital Health and Care Team Award.
The award ceremony is being held in Edinburgh on Tuesday 18 February.
Nicola Graham adds: “It is great to see the excellent work of these Ayrshire teams recognised in this way, as they have worked tirelessly over the last few years to develop and implement this digital pathway which will continue to make a huge difference to the life of thousands of prostate cancer patients in Scotland.”