Latest news with #RoyalUnitedHospitalsBath
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New NHS tech promises faster diagnosis for millions of cancer patients
The NHS is set to speed up cancer diagnoses with the rollout of new technology, Cancer 360. The tool centralises patient data, enabling clinicians to prioritise urgent cases and expedite treatment. The NHS says it could lead to faster diagnoses for millions of patients. Currently, NHS staff grapple with fragmented information scattered across spreadsheets, emails, and various records. Cancer 360 digitises this analogue system, streamlining the process and providing clinicians with a comprehensive overview of each patient's journey. The shift eliminates the need for time-consuming data gathering, allowing medical professionals to focus on delivering timely and effective care, the NHS said. "Every cancer patient deserves swift, effective care, and our new Cancer 360 solution harnesses data to ensure exactly that,' NHS national clinical transformation director Dr Vin Diwakar said. 'By giving clinicians a comprehensive view of patient pathways, we can identify and address delays immediately. 'The NHS federated data platform (FDP) is already showing its value in transforming cancer care, helping our hard-working staff deliver better outcomes while reducing administrative burden. As Cancer 360 expands to more hospitals nationwide, I'm confident we'll see meaningful improvements in both treatment times and patient experience.' It is understood that trusts will not have to use the tool, but those not meeting the cancer standard – including that 85 per cent of cancer patients should have started their treatment within 62 days of being referred – may be asked to consider how Cancer 360 could help them meet targets. As well as helping patients get a faster diagnosis, the DHSC said Cancer 360 will also help cut treatment delays and thus boost survival rates. The technology has been piloted at Royal United Hospitals Bath, and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. It helped Chelsea and Westminster Hospital meet the faster diagnosis standard, whereby 75 per cent of patients should receive a diagnosis or ruling out of cancer within 28 days of referral. Suraiya Abdi, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust, said: 'The implementation of Cancer 360 has enabled my team to monitor and safely carry our patients through their cancer pathway. 'The tool enables us to have in depth conversations at our weekly meetings regarding a patient's next step as well as allowing us to escalate queries directly to other teams for faster turnaround. 'The tool has reduced the amount of admin time spent by our cancer team therefore enabling them to focus on the patient journey. I have witnessed an improvement in performance, team spirit and most importantly patient experience.' Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: 'I've seen first-hand the stress and heartbreak that cancer causes in my own family. 'Dependent on archaic pen-and-paper systems, life-saving diagnostics appointments hung on whether a post-it note lost its stick, or a piece of paper went missing. That put lives at risk, and with the technology we have today, there's no reason for any part of our healthcare service to run in such a way. 'Simply by keeping accurate records, the technology we are putting to work today will cut waiting times and save lives, delivering on our plan for change. That way, people can once again trust that their local hospital has the tools it needs to focus on what matters – treating their loved ones and keeping families together for longer.' The DHSC said Cancer 360, to be rolled out soon, will benefit millions of patients in the next five to 10 years.
The Independent
03-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
New NHS tech promises faster diagnosis for millions of cancer patients
The NHS is set to speed up cancer diagnoses with the rollout of new technology, Cancer 360. The tool centralises patient data, enabling clinicians to prioritise urgent cases and expedite treatment. The NHS says it could lead to faster diagnoses for millions of patients. Currently, NHS staff grapple with fragmented information scattered across spreadsheets, emails, and various records. Cancer 360 digitises this analogue system, streamlining the process and providing clinicians with a comprehensive overview of each patient's journey. The shift eliminates the need for time-consuming data gathering, allowing medical professionals to focus on delivering timely and effective care, the NHS said. "Every cancer patient deserves swift, effective care, and our new Cancer 360 solution harnesses data to ensure exactly that,' NHS national clinical transformation director Dr Vin Diwakar said. 'By giving clinicians a comprehensive view of patient pathways, we can identify and address delays immediately. 'The NHS federated data platform (FDP) is already showing its value in transforming cancer care, helping our hard-working staff deliver better outcomes while reducing administrative burden. As Cancer 360 expands to more hospitals nationwide, I'm confident we'll see meaningful improvements in both treatment times and patient experience.' It is understood that trusts will not have to use the tool, but those not meeting the cancer standard – including that 85 per cent of cancer patients should have started their treatment within 62 days of being referred – may be asked to consider how Cancer 360 could help them meet targets. As well as helping patients get a faster diagnosis, the DHSC said Cancer 360 will also help cut treatment delays and thus boost survival rates. The technology has been piloted at Royal United Hospitals Bath, and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. It helped Chelsea and Westminster Hospital meet the faster diagnosis standard, whereby 75 per cent of patients should receive a diagnosis or ruling out of cancer within 28 days of referral. Suraiya Abdi, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust, said: 'The implementation of Cancer 360 has enabled my team to monitor and safely carry our patients through their cancer pathway. 'The tool enables us to have in depth conversations at our weekly meetings regarding a patient's next step as well as allowing us to escalate queries directly to other teams for faster turnaround. 'The tool has reduced the amount of admin time spent by our cancer team therefore enabling them to focus on the patient journey. I have witnessed an improvement in performance, team spirit and most importantly patient experience.' Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: 'I've seen first-hand the stress and heartbreak that cancer causes in my own family. 'Dependent on archaic pen-and-paper systems, life-saving diagnostics appointments hung on whether a post-it note lost its stick, or a piece of paper went missing. That put lives at risk, and with the technology we have today, there's no reason for any part of our healthcare service to run in such a way. 'Simply by keeping accurate records, the technology we are putting to work today will cut waiting times and save lives, delivering on our plan for change. That way, people can once again trust that their local hospital has the tools it needs to focus on what matters – treating their loved ones and keeping families together for longer.' The DHSC said Cancer 360, to be rolled out soon, will benefit millions of patients in the next five to 10 years.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Half marathon mum 'may not have been here' to run
A mother is ready to run her first half marathon to raise money for a neonatal unit that she said saved her life and her baby. Christine Lawrence's son was born by Caesarean section at the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) after she developed acute pancreatitis. After his birth they both needed multiple visits to the hospital. She plans to thank staff by raising money for the RUH by taking part in the Bath Half Marathon on Sunday. "Without the care and help I received I may not have been here to run my way to this goal," said Ms Lawrence. She said she was feeling nervous ahead of her first half marathon but training had been going well. "The RUH has taken me from being poorly to motivating me to be healthy and fit enough to tackle this challenge. "I recently completed my first 10 mile (16km) run from Shepton to Wells and back and my goodness did I ache the day after. "I learned a lot about myself on that run and I really felt for the first time that a half marathon is achievable." Ms Lawrence became a patient at the RUH when 32 weeks pregnant after suffering pancreatitis. Her son was delivered three weeks later as he had stopped growing. They had to return to hospital repeatedly due to low weight gain and when he contracted bronchitis and stopped breathing. Ms Lawrence also had to have her gallbladder removed when her baby was just six weeks old. About 10,000 runners will take to the streets of Bath on Sunday for the race, which this year is also the official British Athletics trial race for the 2025 World Road Running Championships Half Marathon. The field includes Olympic gold medal winner Jonny Brownlee, world indoor championships 3,000m runner Marc Scott, and Jessica Warner-Judd, a European cross country champion over 5,000m and 10,000m. The 13.1 mile (21km) run draws huge crowds and the annual event raises about £2m for charities and voluntary groups. "I want to show my eternal gratitude and support to all the staff within the hospital," Ms Lawrence added. "It's the least I can do as a way of saying thank you to RUH for saving both mine and my baby's life." Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Thousands hit the streets for city's biggest race Bath Half Marathon returns for 40th anniversary Great Bristol Run announces new two-day format Bath Half Marathon Royal United Hospitals Bath
BBC News
16-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bath Half Marathon mum "may not have been here" to run
A mother is ready to run her first half marathon to raise money for a neonatal unit that she said saved her life and her Lawrence's son was born by Caesarean section at the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) after she developed acute pancreatitis. After his birth they both needed multiple visits to the plans to thank staff by raising money for the RUH by taking part in the Bath Half Marathon on Sunday."Without the care and help I received I may not have been here to run my way to this goal," said Ms Lawrence. She said she was feeling nervous ahead of her first half marathon but training had been going well."The RUH has taken me from being poorly to motivating me to be healthy and fit enough to tackle this challenge."I recently completed my first 10 mile (16km) run from Shepton to Wells and back and my goodness did I ache the day after. "I learned a lot about myself on that run and I really felt for the first time that a half marathon is achievable." Ms Lawrence became a patient at the RUH when 32 weeks pregnant after suffering pancreatitis. Her son was delivered three weeks later as he had stopped growing. They had to return to hospital repeatedly due to low weight gain and when he contracted bronchitis and stopped breathing. Ms Lawrence also had to have her gallbladder removed when her baby was just six weeks old. About 10,000 runners will take to the streets of Bath on Sunday for the race, which this year is also the official British Athletics trial race for the 2025 World Road Running Championships Half field includes Olympic gold medal winner Jonny Brownlee, world indoor championships 3,000m runner Marc Scott, and Jessica Warner-Judd, a European cross country champion over 5,000m and 10, 13.1 mile (21km) run draws huge crowds and the annual event raises about £2m for charities and voluntary groups. "I want to show my eternal gratitude and support to all the staff within the hospital," Ms Lawrence added."It's the least I can do as a way of saying thank you to RUH for saving both mine and my baby's life."
