THE team of specialist nurses who help diagnose and care for patients in Worcestershire with bowel cancer have been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
The judging panel for the Nursing Times Awards have chosen the colorectal nursing team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust as national finalists in the cancer nursing category.
The team were selected for the improvements they have made following the successful pilot of a new telephone triage system which has helped reduce waiting times for patients with suspected bowel cancer.
The telephone consultations meant the specialist nurses were able to directly refer patients to specific investigations without the need to first attend a hospital appointment.
Thanks to the telephone triage system, patients with suspected bowel cancer on average now receive a consultation from a specialist nurse within 48 hours and are seen for further investigation within eight days of the referral from their GP.
The national winner will be announced in October.
