Endocrine Abstracts

Neuroendocrine cancers represent the tenth most prevalent type of cancer in England. However, people with neuroendocrine cancer currently face significant inequities throughout the entire care pathway – from suspected cancer to follow-up care. Despite expert clinical guidelines, there is no currently available national Neuroendocrine Cancer Patient Referral and Care Pathway. Guiding principles of optimal patient pathways include the promotion of earlier, accurate diagnosis and care through earlier:

• recognition/suspicion of diagnosis

• access to disease appropriate diagnostics

• access to disease appropriate clinical expertise and treatment

• access to individualised supportive services and follow on care – whether cure is achievable or not.

To this end, Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, alongside a multi-stakeholder group, including patients, advocates, expert clinicians, Health Policy Partnership, industry and NHS healthcare representatives, have developed a pathway to address and reduce the inequities identified. It aims to reduce the burden of these cancers and to support people with neuroendocrine cancer in seeking the right care, in the right place, at the right time. As the incidence and prevalence of Neuroendocrine Cancer continues to increase there is a consequent urgent need to accelerate the uptake of the care pathway to support earlier diagnosis, help standardise care, and reduce the cost burden to the health system, to ensure patients benefit from ongoing initiatives to improve cancer care across the UK. Having gained patient and multi-professional endorsement, including Society of Endocrinology members, the pathway was launched at a parliamentary event, held in June 2023, to demonstrate the importance of, and next steps for, integration within NHS England practice. It is vitally important that there is a consistent approach to the interpretation and implementation of this pathway, as national guidance across NHS organisations, to avoid the persistence and exacerbation of existing inequities. The Neuroendocrine Cancer: Ideal Pathway is available to read and download here: https://www.neuroendocrinecancer.org.uk/campaigns/nc-pathway/