IMPROVE UK, Gateshead
Advanced Ovarian Cancer Pathway (AOCP); a one stop approach to reduce inequalities in care.
Lead by Dr Dr Dominic Blake.
The background
The North East of England and Cumbria has significant social and economic deprivation, with poorer cancer survival outcomes as compared to the rest of the UK.
The plan
This pilot will introduce an advanced ovarian cancer pathway which aims to revolutionise the care of patients with ovarian cancer in the North East of England.
The pathway will streamline the patient’s journey from initial presentation to diagnosis and treatment by providing a one-stop multi-disciplinary team/clinic. Decision making will be sped up for all patients, particularly those patients unfit or inappropriate for surgery, reducing the number of hospital visits while ensuring the most appropriate treatment can start for patients as quickly as possible.
It will ensure all patients across the North East and Cumbria receive the same opportunities, including improved access to the highest standard of care, access to clinical trials and ultimately have an equal chance of surviving their disease.