In praise of life-saving cancer service

Taunton and Wellington MP, Gideon Amos, has urged people to make use of Somerset cancer self-referral after a visit to Musgrove Park Hospital to meet the team.

Having launched in 2023, the service now covers womb, breast, lung, and bowel cancers, and has recently been shortlisted for a Nursing Times award.

Nurses demonstrated to Gideon how patients can refer themselves to the service, which is designed to reduce pressure on GP services and speed up diagnosis.

He said afterwards: “Somerset cancer self-referral is an amazing service, and I would urge anyone with symptoms to make use of it.

“With thousands of people having used the service, and hundreds diagnosed with cancer, it is clear that self-referral has saved lives through early detection.

“The rest of the country would benefit from a self-referral service, and I will be inviting the Health Minister to Taunton to see it in action.”

Jessica Barton, lead cancer diagnosis nurse at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust added: “We were delighted to welcome Gideon to meet with the cancer self-referral team.

“Recently the breast cancer diagnosis pathway won the Digital Innovation Award at the NHS excellence awards and, having just been nominated for a Nursing Times award, it is great to see this incredible work getting the recognition it deserves.”

Patients can access the self-referral service by going to the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust website:https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/cancer/somerset-self-referral/