Putting Patient Care in the Picture
THE GUTS 2018 FUNDRAISING APPEAL
In 2018 we are funding equipment that will help to address the shortage of doctors and nurses trained in endoscopy techniques.
A £150,000 investment from GUTS will provide the latest AV training equipment linking operating theatres and endoscopy suites at the RSCH with MATTU (Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit). Doctors and nurses will be able to see endoscopic and laparoscopic (‘keyhole’) techniques in high-definition detail, and speak with the surgeons and other clinical specialists as they carry out the procedures. Watching and learning from experts is an indispensable part of thetraining process.
Reducing waiting times, improving outcomes
So why is this so important for bowel cancer patients? Well, endoscopy is the first line of referral for anyone who has either presented to their GP with particular symptoms or who is flagged as needing further investigation through the screening programme. The current shortage of trained colonoscopists is impacting on waiting times and is a major barrier to lowering the starting age for bowel cancer screening.
After a bowel cancer diagnosis, surgery is usually the first treatment. Nationally 54% of major resections are now carried out laparoscopically, although at the RSCH this value rises to over 90%. Where cancers haven’t spread, keyhole procedures will almost always result in a more rapid recovery for patients.