General Practitioner (GP) - Acute Diagnostic Oncology Clinic

Job summary

Rapid Diagnostic CentresThe NHS Long Term plan has set out a vision to transform cancer care, with an aim to improve five year survival figures for patients diagnosed with cancer and to diagnose three in four cancers at an early stage.

As part of this strategy, NHS England and NHS Improvement have mandated the provision of at least one Rapid Diagnostic Centre (RDC) in each Cancer Alliance.

These centres are primarily focussed on assessing patients with non-site-specific symptoms that are worrisome for a new cancer diagnosis and are to operate on seven key components.

RM Partners, the West London Cancer Alliance, are supporting the development of Rapid Diagnostic Centres across West London. In this geography, the RDC model combines both specialist andgeneralist clinical input to ensure a holistic approach to diagnostics for patients presenting with nonsite specific symptoms. At the heart of this team, is a GP with a specialist interest in Oncology.

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic General Practitioner (GP) with an interest in cancer, and cancer diagnostics, to join the RDC team. This is a very unique role with an excellent opportunity to build a portfolio in secondary care, develop a cancer interest and be at the centre of exciting research and developments in cancer diagnostics.

Applications are welcome for 2 PAs (1 day) or 4 PAs (2 days) per week.

Main duties of the job

Rapid Diagnostic Centres (RDCs) form part of NHS England's Cancer strategy to deliver faster and earlier diagnosis of cancer, as well as an improved patient experience. They provide a single point of access pathway for patients with signs and symptoms that could indicate a new diagnosis of cancer.

RDCs provide a symptom-based approach to patient referral. This is in contrast to existing suspected 2 week wait cancer referral pathways that focus on tumour-specific disease.

A significant proportion of patients with cancer in the UK general practice present with more vague, non-specific symptoms, and can wait up to 34 days longer to diagnose compared to patients with typical 'red flag' symptoms.

The RDC service model framework therefore sets out to have the following key components: early identification, timely referral, broad assessment of symptoms, co-ordinated testing, timely diagnosis of patients' symptoms, appropriate onward referral.

The GP would work 4 sessions (2 days) or 2 sessions (1 day) per week in the RDC.

See attached Job Description for key roles and responsibilities.

Please note: This post will be based in our Acute Diagnostic Oncology Clinic (ADOC) at West Middlesex Hospital, but may have the opportunity and requirement to also work at the ADOC at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

About us

We provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East. We have over 6,000 members of staff that arePROUD to Carefor nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.

We're one of the best preforming Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for - our staff say they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.

Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as 'Good' in all five of the main domains of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of 'Good'. We've also been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating for 'use of resources' by an NHS Improvement inspection.

Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing around £10 million a year in our estate. We are currently spending £25 million on expanding our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and redevelopment of our children's unit at West Middlesex - in partnership with our charity, CW+ and generous donors.