The rapid diagnostic centre (RDC) for non-specific symptoms provides a single point of contact to support patients with vague symptoms that may be due to cancer.
The service is based at the Friarage Hospital, with a weekly clinic at Guisborough Primary Care Hospital. The RDC aims to promote faster diagnosis by assessing patients’ symptoms holistically and providing a tailored pathway of clinically relevant diagnostic tests as quickly as possible.
Clinicians in primary and secondary care 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, diagnosed, and if needed, treated quickly and effectively.
The RDC provides
Early identification – of patients where cancer is possible
Timely referral – based on standardised referral criteria and filter tests
Broad assessment of symptoms – for effective triage and plan based on individual patient’s symptoms and needs
Coordinated testing – to reduce number of visits to the hospital and shorten the time between referral and diagnosis
Timely diagnosis of symptoms – of cancer or otherwise by a multi-disciplinary team, communicated appropriately to the patient
Appropriate onward referral – to the right service for further support, investigation, treatment and / or care
Excellent patient coordination and support – with patients having a single point of contact throughout their diagnostic journey
How to access the service
The RDC is open to referrals from primary care and secondary care:
Contact details
You can contact the team by:
- Telephone – 01609 763338 (Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm)
- Email – stees.rdc@nhs.net
- Address – Rapid Diagnostic Centre, Friarage Hospital, Bullamoor Road, Northallerton, DL6 1JG
