Developing and Setting Up a Lung Cancer Triage Phoneline For Rural West Wales

Abstract

The incidence of people diagnosed with and living with cancer in the UK is increasing and by 2030, 1 in 2 people will develop cancer (The Cancer Delivery Plan 2016-2020 WAG). Health care providers must explore innovative ways to provide quality care both in terms of outcomes and patient experience set against the challenge of finite resources. Within Wales there are over 2,300 patients diagnosed with lung cancer each year, however less than 20% of these are diagnosed at early stage when they are eligible for curative treatment. It has been shown that early diagnoses leads to improved survival.
 More than 90% of patients with lung cancer are symptomatic at diagnosis. 
 Rates of lung cancer diagnosis have been drastically impacted by COVID, with referral rates and presentation to GPs at an all-time low in 2020-21. Screening of patients by triage nurse will help reduce GP workload by allowing patients to be referred, for Chest X-ray, and then to Secondary Care for onward management.
 To improve early diagnosis of lung cancer, LUMEN (Lung Cancer Symptom Assessment Line) Nurse Led Service was developed with the following aims:
 
 To deliver a triage service that is safe, effective, equitable and accessible.
 Develop and launch this service and integrate into current lung cancer pathways.
 Promote and deliver the service and determine acceptability, feasibility, safety, and cost-effectiveness of the pathway.
 
 By increasing patient access to diagnostic testing, we hope to increase early diagnosis and subsequent patient outcomes.
 Patient benefits
 The Nurse will make onward referrals to lung cancer team, support the person throughout this journey and offer smoking cessation advice, if needed.
 Staff Benefits
 Role is varied and includes raising awareness of lung cancer symptoms, promoting the service, and liaising with various teams to improve patient journey.