Imperial College London (ICL)

ID 393

Delays in diagnosis and access to cancer care can mean life or death for patients.Remote consultations (telephone or video) could make it easier for people to access assessment,treatment, and follow-up care.

Delays in diagnosis and access to cancer care can mean life or death for patients. It is vital to ensure all people at risk of cancer are identified and referred urgently. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Northwest London, with over 8,000 people diagnosed annually – and many struggle to find quick and convenient access to specialty care. Remote consultations (telephone or video) could make it easier for people to access assessment,treatment, and follow-up care. Our previous findings from Northwest London data highlight growing acceptance of remote consultations in the general population, with attendance rates comparable to in-person visits. They can be particularly important for people who are housebound, living in rural areas, and working, and for parents: the flexibility of remote consultations means that patients do not need to travel to appointments, take time off work, or organize childcare. However, there are concerns that remote appointments may negatively impact timeliness of care due to exacerbating digital exclusion” of some patients or by being less clinically efficient. People seeking care for cancer at specialist outpatient services may also be impacted by these new ways of accessing care, but this has not yet been assessed. This project will examine whether and how remote outpatient services in impact upon timeliness of care for patients seeking assessment or treatment of cancer. Differences in time to appointment, diagnoses and treatment will be explored across patient groups to investigate whether remote care is being implemented appropriately and equitably. This project aims to inform how remote consultations are implemented to improve outpatient service delivery for cancer patients.

21/03/2024

TRE