What is the Non-Specific Symptoms (NSS) Cancer pathway?

Patients who are over 18 years old and experiencing one or more of the following criteria can be referred to the NSS pathway via the electronic referral system (eRS):

鈥⑻� Unexplained or unintentional weight loss of >5%

鈥⑻� Loss of appetite

鈥⑻� Nausea and/ or bloating

鈥⑻� Severe unexplained fatigue

鈥⑻� Night sweats

鈥⑻� New unexplained abdominal pain for 4 weeks or more

鈥⑻� Newly raised platelet count of >400 (aged 40 and above).

鈥⑻� Referrer gut intuition of cancer

Patients on the NSS referral pathway will be managed by our clinical team who work closely with the NSS Patient Navigator to ensure a quick and efficient service is experienced by all.

This is a remote service, consultations are held via the telephone between the patient and a member of the clinical team. Following the consultation, tests may be recommended and requested by the team.

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Investigation often starts with a CT scan of the chest/ abdomen and pelvis, the radiology department aim to do the CT scan within 2 weeks. Some time is then taken to review and report on the images, this process can take 7-10 working days.

The outcome of the CT scan generally falls into one of the following categories:

鈥⑻� No evidence of cancer, patient discharged back into the care of their GP with advice and reassurance.

鈥⑻� Referral on to a site-specific specialist cancer pathway

鈥⑻� Referral to other speciality for onward management of a non-cancer diagnosis

The NSS team make all the necessary onward referrals and recommended tests.

Once we are confident our input is no longer required, we send the patient and the GP a discharge summary detailing our conversations, test results, actions we have taken and any future recommendations.听听

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For information on getting to the hospital, please visit the following page:鈥�Coming Into Our Hospital鈥�听

Typical care pathway听听

If your GP has any concerns, they will refer you to the Non-Specific Symptoms (NSS) Pathway here at the hospital for further testing.听听

Before your first appointment, it would be helpful if you could consider any relevant information on the following beforehand:听

Past Medical History鈥�- previous illnesses or operations.听

Regular medications鈥�- a list of prescriptions is useful.听

Family History鈥�- close relatives who may have had a diagnosis of cancer.听

There are some useful links available on the following page, to help you prepare for appointments: Preparing for your appointments听

For your initial appointment, you will receive a call from our NSS Pathway Navigator who will explain the service to you and the process from referral to diagnosis. During that initial call they will also schedule a telephone call with a member of the clinician team. This involves taking a full medical history and discussing your current symptoms and concerns. This call usually takes 20 鈥� 40 minutes.听听听

You will be referred for further tests to determine a diagnosis, for information on the tests which may be involved, please visit 鈥榯ests and investigations which may take place鈥� (LINK)听

The results from these tests will be reviewed at a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting, where a group of medical specialists will review the results to determine a specific diagnosis.听听

It is intended that the pathway will lead to one of the following outcomes:听听

Referral on to a site-specific specialist cancer pathway听

Referral to other speciality for onward management of a non-cancer diagnosis听

Discharged back to the care of the GP with advice and reassurance (if required)听

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Getting to the Radiology Department

If you need a CT Scan:听

By car:鈥疎nter the hospital site at Entrance A. Park in car park 8 at the rear of the hospital. Enter the hospital at the Springs Entrance and head to level 3, then follow signs to the 鈥楥T & MRI Scanner鈥�.听

By bus:鈥痩eave the bus at the Springs Entrance (second stop). Enter the hospital at the Springs Entrance and head to level 3, then follow signs to the 鈥楥T & MRI Scanner鈥�.听

Pictured above: CT & MRI-1 Scanner location听

If you need an MRI:听

We have two MRI Scanners which are located at opposite ends of the Hospital site. Please check your appointment letter carefully to see which scanner your scan is booked for, as it is about 10 minutes walk between the two scanners.听

翱耻谤鈥�MRI-1 Scanner鈥痗an be found on Level 3 in the Main Hospital corridor, follow signs to 鈥楥T & MRI Scanner鈥�.鈥�

翱耻谤鈥�MRI-2 Scanner鈥痗an be found in the Central building and is down the corridor from the Day Surgery Unit.

Pictured above: MRI-2 Scanner location听

Getting to the Endoscopy Unit听听

The Endoscopy Unit is on level 3 of the north building of the hospital.听

By car: Enter the hospital site at Entrance A. Park in car park 8 at the rear of the hospital. Enter the hospital at the Springs Entrance and head up the stairs/lift to level 3, then follow signs to the 鈥楨ndoscopy Unit鈥�.听听

By bus: leave the bus at the Springs Entrance (second stop). Enter the hospital at the Springs Entrance and head up the stairs/lift to level 3, then follow signs to the 鈥楨ndoscopy Unit鈥�.听

Getting to the Pathology Department (blood tests)听听

The Pathology鈥疍epartment at the hospital, are along the hospital corridor on level 3 of the North building.听

The direct telephone number for Pathology is 01722 336262 extension 4020.听

By car:听

Park in car park 8 and enter the hospital on level 2 near the Springs Restaurant. Head up the stairs or lift, to level 3 and go towards the Main Entrance. Pathology is along the hospital corridor, very close to the main entrance 鈥� you can follow signs to find it.听

If you have a disabled badge there is disabled parking by the Main Entrance and also near the level 2 entrance by Springs Restaurant.听

By bus:鈥痩eave the bus at the Main Entrance bus stop, enter the hospital here. Go straight forward, at the end turn right on the main corridor to find the Pathology area on your left. This is also where you will find the blood test department reception.听

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