Bolton NHS Trust is being recognized for swift cancer diagnosis times, placing it among the top three hospital trusts in the country, according to recent reports. Dr. Volleamere, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon and clinical lead for breast services at Bolton, emphasized the importance of remembering that “target numbers are patients, individual people, and I think we do that really well in Bolton.”
The trust aims to provide patients attending their one-stop clinic with a cancer diagnosis, or confirmation that cancer has been ruled out, within nine days. While achieving this timeframe, Dr. Volleamere acknowledges even this is too long for patients facing uncertainty. ”It’s a stressful time. A week, and it is still too long and it’s about remembering that a day is a lifetime to these people,” she saeid.
Bolton NHS trust,like others across the UK,faces challenges including equipment malfunctions and appointment adjustments. Though, the trust prioritizes a patient-centered approach, utilizing methods like “individualised text messages” to keep patients informed and engaged in their care.
Dr. Volleamere, who has worked at Bolton for 20 years and led breast services for the past 10, stated, “I think we all have pressures, and we all have problems, but it’s about that adaptability and remembering it’s a person.” Other trusts reported issues to BBC Verify including lost referral letters and staffing shortages leading to appointment cancellations.
