Endoscopy waiting times and impact of the two week wait scheme on diagnosis and outcome of upper gastrointestinal cancer

The NHS has introduced the two week wait scheme to detect upper gastrointestinal cancers at an early stage and improve survival rates The aim of this study was to assess the impact of this scheme and changes in endoscopy waiting times on tumour stage and resection rates over a four year period. Data...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Postgraduate medical journal 2005-11, Vol.81 (961), p.728-730
Main Authors: Spahos, T, Hindmarsh, A, Cameron, E, Tighe, M R, Igali, L, Pearson, D, Rhodes, M, Lewis, M P N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ambulatory Care - utilization
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical Audit
Early Diagnosis
Endoscopy
Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal - utilization
England
Esophageal Neoplasms - diagnosis
Gastric cancer
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
General aspects
Humans
Medical prognosis
Medical sciences
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Referral and Consultation - statistics & numerical data
Stomach Neoplasms - diagnosis
Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
Surgery
Time Factors
Tumors
two week wait
upper gastrointestinal cancer
Vomiting
Waiting Lists
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Summary:The NHS has introduced the two week wait scheme to detect upper gastrointestinal cancers at an early stage and improve survival rates The aim of this study was to assess the impact of this scheme and changes in endoscopy waiting times on tumour stage and resection rates over a four year period. Data were analysed prospectively for all patients diagnosed with oesophagogastric cancer between September 1998 and September 2002 and from those referred under the two week wait scheme since its introduction in 2000. Of those tumours diagnosed by this scheme (15%) only 5% were early disease (stage 1 or 2). Patients with early cancer, mainly diagnosed by routine gastroscopy, do not present with symptoms meeting the two week wait criteria. An increase in the resection rates for early disease will most probably be seen with a reduction in routine endoscopy waiting times.
ISSN:0032-5473
1469-0756
DOI:10.1136/pgmj.2004.031104