TY - JOUR T1 - Implementation and outcomes of the RAPID programme: Addressing the front end of the lung cancer pathway in Manchester JF - Clinical Medicine JO - Clin Med SP - 401 LP - 405 DO - 10.7861/clinmed.2019-0218 VL - 20 IS - 4 AU - Matthew Evison AU - Kath Hewitt AU - Judith Lyons AU - Phil Crosbie AU - Haval Balata AU - Caroline Gee AU - Rebecca Duerden AU - Melanie Greaves AU - Anna Sharman AU - Richard Booton Y1 - 2020/07/01 UR - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/20/4/401.abstract N2 - Introduction Patients with suspected lung cancer require computed tomography (CT), specialist interpretation of the CT and a consultation with a specialist. Significant time savings could be made with rapid access to these components in the front end of the lung cancer pathway.Methods The RAPID programme was launched at Manchester's Wythenshawe Hospital in April 2016. This pathway offers next working day CT for patients with suspected lung cancer, immediate ‘hot’ reporting of CT images and a same day consultation with a diagnostic specialist.Results From April 2016 to January 2019, 1,027 patients were referred to the RAPID programme. The median time from referral to CT was 3 days. The CT was hot reported in 94% of patients. The median time from CT to triage and consultation with a diagnostic specialist was 0 days. Overall 56% and 90% of patients had completed a CT and consultation within 3 and 7 days of referral, respectively (0% and 24% prior to implementation).Conclusion Through simple reorganisation of workload, we have significantly reduced the pathway for patients with suspected lung cancer to meet a specialist with a reported CT, something we firmly believe is replicable across all hospitals. ER -