Faster diagnosis cancer nurses in Nursing Times award shortlist for self-referrals

A pioneering cancer initiative led by our faster diagnosis cancer nurses has been recognised on the national stage after being shortlisted for a prestigious Nursing Times Award.

Our cancer nursing colleagues have been named finalists in the Ingrid Fuchs Cancer Nursing Award category, in recognition of their work transforming how patients access life-saving diagnostics.

The nomination centres on an innovative self-referral model, developed and delivered by our faster diagnosis team, which enables patients to refer themselves directly into diagnostic pathways without needing to see a GP first.

Jessica Barton, our lead faster diagnosis nurse, says the recognition was a proud moment for the team.

“We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for a Nursing Times Award,” she says.

“This is recognition of a huge amount of work from a dedicated group of nurses and colleagues who are passionate about improving cancer care for our patients.”

The initiative was launched in response to concerns that too many patients were being diagnosed at a later stage, with traditional referral routes sometimes causing delays.

Jessica explains: “We knew we needed to do something different if we were going to improve early diagnosis rates. One of the key challenges was that patients had to go through multiple steps before reaching the right diagnostic service, which could lead to delays.

“We wanted to remove those barriers and give patients a more direct route into care.”

The team began by introducing a self-referral pathway for post-menopausal bleeding, allowing patients to access a one-stop clinic without first visiting their GP.

“Our first pathway showed us what was possible,” Jessica says. “Patients were being assessed and diagnosed much more quickly, often within just a few days. It really demonstrated the impact of giving patients direct access to the right services.”

Building on that success, the approach was expanded to include additional pathways, including colorectal, breast and chest X-ray referrals, creating what is believed to be one of the most comprehensive self-referral cancer diagnostic programmes in the country.

Jessica says: “What makes this work so powerful is the scale of it. We haven’t just focused on one area, but have actually developed multiple pathways that reach different groups of patients and different types of cancer.

“It’s about making access to diagnostics simpler, faster and more equitable.”

Patients can now use a range of digital routes, including online platforms and the NHS App, to refer themselves into specialist services, reducing reliance on GP appointments and improving access for those who might otherwise have faced delays.

Since launching, the pathways have already had a significant impact, with strong patient uptake and clear clinical benefits.

“In total, we’ve seen thousands of patients come through these pathways,” Jessica says.

“Most importantly, we’ve been able to identify cancers earlier, which gives patients a much better chance of successful treatment.

“That’s ultimately what this is all about – improving outcomes and saving lives.”

The initiative has also helped to ease pressure on primary care, freeing up GP time, while ensuring patients who need urgent investigation are prioritised more quickly.

Jessica adds: “This isn’t just better for patients, but better for the whole system. By streamlining the process, we can make sure people are seen in the right place at the right time, while also supporting our colleagues in primary care.”

The work has been led by cancer nursing specialists, supported by consultants and administrative teams, with nurses playing a central role in designing and delivering the pathways.

“Our nursing teams have been at the heart of this from the very beginning,” Jessica says.

“They’ve used their expertise to design safe, effective pathways, and they continue to lead the day-to-day running and improvement of the service. It really shows the impact that nurse-led innovation can have.”

The programme has already attracted attention from across the NHS, with other organisations exploring how similar models could be adopted in their own services.

Jessica says: “We’ve had a lot of interest from teams across the country who are keen to learn from what we’ve done.

“That’s really encouraging, because it means the benefits we’re seeing here in Somerset could be replicated elsewhere.”

For Jessica and her colleagues, being shortlisted for a Nursing Times Award is not just a celebration of what has been achieved so far, but a reflection of the dedication shown by the team every day.

“I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved,” she says. “This has been a true team effort, with so many people contributing to make it a success.

“To see that recognised at a national level is really special, and we’re honoured to be shortlisted alongside so many inspiring teams.”

The winners of the Nursing Times Awards will be announced later this year.