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Self-referral service 'life saving', say patients

BBC A woman wearing a black and white blazer sits in a surgery room on a chair, opposite a doctor who is sat at a computer.BBC
Hazel Hugall was diagnosed with womb cancer after using the service

Women concerned they might have womb cancer are being seen 12 times quicker thanks to a self-referral service hailed "life-saving" by patients.

The Bleeding after Menopause Service run by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, means patients no longer need to see a GP to access diagnostic tests.

"I think if I hadn't been seen so quickly, who knows, it could have been worse," said Hazel Hugall, 61, who used the service after noticing symptoms that turned out to be cancer.

It has helped more than 375 women since it launched last September and the model is being used to detect other cancers too, the trust said.

"Previously it would have taken up to 60 days before they would have had an appointment in the hospital, now that's down to about four to five days," said Mr David Milliken, the consultant in charge of the service.

Self-referrals can be made online or by calling up the service, with appointments available at seven centres across the county including in Bridgwater, Minehead, South Petherton and Glastonbury.

"Traditionally patients would have had to contact their GP, who would then have to fill in a referral form to get into the hospital," he said.

"With this, it's completely direct to the hospital."

He said clinicians review online forms and patients are contacted and seen quickly.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust A close-up of David Milliken in a clinical setting wearing a smart jacket, blue open-necked shirt and turquoise lanyard. There is a computer and a patient bed behind himSomerset NHS Foundation Trust
David Milliken said the service has been so successful other departments have started using the same model

Womb cancer is one of the most common cancers that affects older women who have been through the menopause.

Symptoms can include bleeding after the age of menopause.

A woman wearing a black and white blazer and white top looks at the camera. She appears to be sitting in a doctor's surgery with a white wall and desk behind her.
Hazel Hugall said she was now "doing fine" after being diagnosed with high grade womb cancer

Ms Hugall was sent a self-referral form by her GP, after noticing "unusual bleeding".

"I mentioned the bleeding to my GP who sent me a self-referral form," she said.

"It was really easy, they ask you a few personal questions about the symptoms I had, I sent that off and the next day I got an appointment to come into the hospital to have a check.

"I got an appointment within four days at my local hospital in Yeovil."

Within a few weeks, Ms Hugall had a biopsy which revealed she had cancer.

"Within two weeks again, I then had a hysterectomy," she said.

"I'm really pleased I went online and got it sorted really quickly and I'm looking forward to going back to work and getting back to normal."

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