New cancer centre for 'faster diagnosis' opens at Southend Hospital
A 'one-stop shop' to speed up cancer diagnosis will be trialled at Southend Hospital, for the first time.
The idea is being led by NHS England and two cancer charities, at ten hospitals across the country.
GPs will be able to refer patients to an assessment centre, where they'll undergo tests for different cancers.
The initiative aims to give patients, not showing "alarm" signs for a specific type of cancer, a quick diagnosis.
Some patients will be able to receive a definitive diagnosis or be given theall-clear on the same day, while others may require further tests.
Cally Palmer, national director for cancer at NHS England, said: "Earlydiagnosis is crucial to saving lives and providing peace of mind for patients,which is why we are driving forward plans to revolutionise our approach to cancer in this country.
"These new one-stop shops represent a real step change in the way people with unclear symptoms are identified, diagnosed and treated."
Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK's director of early diagnosis, said: "We'reconfident that these ten pilot centres will give us a much better understanding of what's needed to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of people with less obvious symptoms, improve their experience of care and, ultimately, survival."
The ten trial centres are at the following hospitals:
North Middlesex University Hospital
University College London Hospital
Southend University Hospital
Queen's Hospital
Royal Free Hospital
St James's University Hospital
Airedale General Hospital
University Hospital South Manchester
Royal Oldham Hospital
Churchill Hospital