PCNs needed for pancreatic cancer pilot

NHS England has put out a request for PCNs interested in piloting a new approach to improve pancreatic cancer diagnosis and outcomes to come forward.

The pancreatic cancer case finding pilot will be part of the NHS Cancer Programme and hopes to improve earlier diagnosis rates of pancreatic cancer for people aged 60 years and over with new onset diabetes and weight loss.

It will use GP patient records to proactively case-find eligible patients for the programme.

NHS England could not confirm how many PCNs could take part or what they would get for being part of the pilot.

Pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common in England with around 77% of the cancers are diagnosed at a late stage. Only 7.3% of people live five years or more beyond the date of their diagnosis.

However, evidence suggests a link between new onset diabetes and pancreatic cancer and paired with weight loss, can provide an early indication of the disease, according to NHS England.

A Primary Care Bulletin at the end of October said PCNs who are interested in taking part can join a webinar on 12 November to find out more.

Earlier this year, AI cancer detection tool C the Signs reported a 98% sensitivity for cancer, showing the potential for AI to improve early diagnosis in primary care.

Speaking at a Pulse PCN event in April, CEO and co-founder of the AI tool, Dr Bea Bakshi, said there were many opportunities that digital tools present for early diagnosis of cancer, which can then improve survival rates and reduce the costs of treatment for the NHS.

Havering North PCN recently shared with Pulse PCN how they employ a dedicated cancer lead to focus on the issue within the area.

PCNs are also being used to pilot new ways of working through the capacity and access test site pilot, which will run over three years to try and understand whether interventions can make a difference to capacity in primary care.