The breast self-referral pilot service forms part of the Wessex Cancer Alliance (WCA) response to the national Rapid Diagnostic Centre (RDC) Programme. The RDC programme forms part of the package of work in place nationally and regionally to deliver the ambition to diagnose patients with cancer faster and to improve patient experience. The RDC programme also forms part of the response to deliver the new Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS).

The RDC specification cites self-referral as part of work that could be undertaken to open access to referrers other than primary care and forms part of their recommended approach to implementation.

This pilot service has been developed in partnership between the Rapid Investigation Service team working together with clinical colleagues from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Winchester Rural North and East Primary Care Network and The Camrose, Gillies, and Hackwood Partnership.

Published: February 2023