Rapid diagnostic clinic

The rapid diagnostic clinic is a non-specific (vague) symptoms pathway to refer patients with suspected cancer. This provides a route for patients presenting with vague symptoms who may have a serious illness. This includes patients who:

• do not meet the criteria for a site-specific pathway, or
• fit multiple suspected cancer pathways

Before referral

Within 3 months before referral, your patient needs to have had the 7 triage tests:

• full blood count
• inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• kidney function blood test
• liver function test and bone profile
• cancer antigen 125 (CA125) or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test
• faecal immunochemical test (FIT), if patient has gastrointestinal symptoms
• chest X-ray

Referral criteria

We're unable to see bedbound and immobile patients at our clinic and cannot provide home visits.

We accept referral for patients who are at least 18 years old and have 1 or more of these symptoms:

• concerning general malaise or fatigue
• unintentional weight loss without a clear cause
• non-specific abdominal symptoms for more than 4 weeks but not reaching criteria for an established urgent suspected cancer referral pathway
• new or unexplained breathlessness. Please take steps to rule out:
• new or unexplained breathlessness. Please take steps to rule out:
  • undiagnosed heart failure
  • ischemic heart disease (IHD)
  • thrombo-embolic disease
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • infection
• unexplained worsening of pain, especially back pain
• persistent abnormal and unexplained laboratory tests (at least 2 occasions), including:
  • anaemia, with normal FIT
  • unexplained raised inflammatory markers
  • increased calcium
  • unexplained deranged liver function tests
  • thrombocytosis
• abnormal radiology causing concern for cancer but not suitable for a tumour site specific urgent cancer referral
• significant GP concern of a possible cancer diagnosis, where there is no clear urgent referral pathway. For example, unexplained DVT or paraneoplastic syndromes

Referral triage

Please provide a summary care record and as much detail about the reason for referral.

All referrals go through our virtual triage process and we then either:

• send the patient straight for tests
• see the patient for a face-to-face clinic appointment
• redirect back to referrer with advice on e-RS

The reason for rejecting referrals is recorded on e-RS and can include:

• insufficient clinical information
• missing triage tests
• more suitable for other urgent or specific referral pathways

Urgent referrals

Please use Consultant Connect or email us if you need referral advice or want to speed up a referral for a patient with a high suspicion of cancer.