Rapid diagnostic centre

The rapid diagnostic centre provides a single point of contact to support patients with non-specific (vague) symptoms that may be due to cancer.

The service is based at the Friarage Hospital and aims to promote faster diagnosis by assessing patients’ symptoms holistically and providing a tailored pathway of clinically relevant diagnostic tests as quickly as possible.

GPs can refer patients to the RDC if they feel they have symptoms that require further investigation by a hospital specialist team so that problems can be investigated, and if needed, treated quickly and effectively.

The RDC provides

• Early identification

• Timely referral

• Broad assessment of symptoms

• Coordinated testing

• Timely diagnosis of symptoms

• Appropriate onward referral

• Excellent patient coordination and support

How to access the service

The RDC is currently open to referrals from GPs (via Choose and Book) and emergency departments.

Criteria for referral

• GP ‘gut feeling’ of cancer diagnosis – reasons to be clearly described at referral
• New unexplained and unintentional weight loss
• New unexplained constitutional symptoms of four weeks or more (less if very significant concern). Symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, malaise, bloating
• New unexplained vague abdominal pain of four weeks or more (less if very significant concern)
• Unexplained new or progressive pain including bone pain, of four weeks or more

Exclusion criteria

• Patient has specific alarm symptoms warranting referral onto site-specific two week wait pathway
• Patient is too unwell or unable to attend as an outpatient or needs acute admission
• Patient is likely to have a non-cancer diagnosis suitable for another specialist pathway
• Patient is currently being investigated for the same problem by another specialist team