The results of the pilot study for the Head and Neck Cancer Rapid Access Clinics are in—and they’re nothing short of impressive. This collaborative initiative between the H&NCF and the New South Wales Department of Health has demonstrated remarkable success in improving patient outcomes.
Analysis of the data shows that waiting times for specialist consultations at these clinics were on par with, or even better than, the world’s best-published benchmarks. More importantly, the clinics enabled the early diagnosis of a significant number of patients with neck cancers and other major neck conditions. This early detection allowed for quicker intervention, leading to better outcomes and, in many cases, avoiding more complex, invasive, and expensive surgeries that would have been necessary had these patients been diagnosed later.
While the Prince of Wales Hospital and the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESAHS) have decided not to continue funding these clinics, the compelling data we’ve gathered will be used to re-approach NSW Health. The potential benefits of scaling this model state-wide are vast, and we are determined to explore every avenue to make this life-saving initiative accessible to more patients across the state.
Head and Neck Cancer Clinic 2021-2022
The Rapid Access Clinic was a ground-breaking trial of accessive early detection and free treatment of head and neck cancers that ran from 2021-2022 at Prince of Wales Hospital.
The Head and Neck Cancer Foundation, the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, and Radiation Oncology are attempting to secure funding to establish this model of care across the state on an ongoing basis.
Rapid Access Head and Neck Cancer Screening Clinic
See Below for Referral Pathway
Head and Neck cancer accounts for 3% of all new cancer diagnoses and has approximately a 69% survival rate. The earlier it presents the better the survival rate. Despite public educational campaigns, many people present late with advanced disease.
Head and Neck cancer is associated with numerous risk factors, including smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and exposure to the Human Papillomavirus. Symptoms are often non-specific and misdiagnosed as being benign pathology. It is suggested that any patient with oral or throat discomfort lasting for more than two weeks, change in voice, difficulty swallowing, or coughing up blood requires immediate assessment by an ENT surgeon.
Due to the lack of a screening service for this debilitating disease The Prince of Wales Hospital Head and Neck Department with the help of the Head and Neck Cancer Foundation has established the first rapid access screening clinic, at the Prince of Wales Hospital. This clinic will allow a streamlined service for those patients at risk of Head and Neck Cancer and includes people with any of the above risk factors or symptoms of concern.
We hope that by identifying head and neck cancers at an earlier stage, less invasive treatment modalities will be able to be employed with fewer side-effects and better outcomes.
Referral Pathway
Referrals for this clinic can be made via telephone to our Research Fellow or the Head and Neck clinical nurse consultant, see below. Alternatively, please complete the attached form and we will be in contact.
Ears Nose and Throat Research Fellow:
Call 0401 911 411 and request to speak to Ear Nose and Throat Research Fellow.
Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Consultant
Contact Paula on 02 9382 4264 and leave a voicemail message if she is unavailable.