AIREDALE Hospital is taking part in a national pilot programme to improve the way patients with cancer symptoms are referred.

The Steeton site is among five hospitals participating in the initiative, which aims to speed-up the diagnostic process.

Particularly targeted as part of the so-called National Accelerate Coordinate Evaluate (ACE) project are people with non-specific but concerning symptoms, who don't meet the criteria for the existing procedures, or those too unwell to wait.

Patients are contacted by a cancer clinical nurse specialist within a couple of days of referral to discuss their symptoms in detail.

They can then be booked in for diagnostic tests if appropriate, prior to being seen in a clinic.

During the first six months of the pilot, the service has received more than 70 referrals and all have been dealt with more quickly than would have been the case prior to the programme.

Clinical nurse specialist Claire Waddington said the scheme was greatly improving patients' experiences.

"In one case we had a referral from A&E for a patient with possible cancer symptoms," she said.

"Instead of the patient being admitted into hospital from A&E, the consultant referred him to the ACE service and he was able to go home.

"We then rang the patient the next day to discuss his symptoms over the phone and request further tests, and he was seen in clinic within 48 hours.

"Had the ACE service not been available, the patient probably would have faced an unnecessary hospital stay of a few days.

"The pilot enables us to make a difference to the way in which patients are seen and how resources are used, eliminates unnecessary outpatient appointments and has the potential to reduce hospital admissions. Most importantly, it has a positive impact on the patient's experience."

It is hoped the scheme – which is supported by NHS England, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support – could be rolled out across the country.