Blue flag clinics – a Quality Improvement project to reduce referral pressure on breast surgery 2 week wait service

Abstract

Introduction: The breast cancer urgent suspected cancer referral pathway is under unprecedented pressures. A Quality Improvement project implemented a new triaging criterion of 2 pathways; red flag (suspected breast cancer referral; same day triple assessment within 2 weeks) and blue flag (symptomatic breast referral; clinical assessment within 2 weeks and uncoupled imaging if required). This evaluation assesses whether the blue flag clinic reduces imaging and its safety.