Presentations 2020: OMFS

343 - Oral Cancer: Analysing the appropriateness of electronic referrals to Secondary Care.

RK PIGOT
Presented by: Rebecca Pigot
Cardiff Dental Hospital

Oral cancer prevalence is increasing, especially among the younger population, females and those with no known risk factors. With an increasing strain on limited NHS resources, it is important that medical and dental practitioners are diagnosing pre-malignant and malignant conditions and appropriately referring patients, as a delay in diagnosis has significant effects on morbidity and mortality rates. A retrospective audit examining the appropriateness of electronic Urgent Suspected Cancer (USC) referrals to secondary care was undertaken, which analysed data from June to November 2019. A previous audit analysing paper referrals in 2018 revealed that 87.9% of referrals did not comply with NICE guidelines for USC referrals and recommendations for change highlighted the possibility that e-referrals might improve the appropriateness. The latest data however shows that the majority of USC referrals are still being sent without a provisional diagnosis and they are not being sent in accordance with NICE guidelines or with any red flag features. The data collected also highlighted specific practitioners or practices which had an above average referral rate, assessed whether NHS target times for appointments were being met as well as analysing the proportion of malignant conditions diagnosed through biopsies. Through this research we can highlight key areas where improvement is needed and propose mechanisms for change in order to filter this back to general medical and dental practitioners.
Consent Statement: There are no details on individual patients reported within the abstract.

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