Bart’s Multidisciplinary Rapid Access Clinic (MDRAC) to pause for 3 months
Due to unexpected severe staff shortages (we are currently in a position where we have no full-time equivalents available), the Bart’s Multidisciplinary Rapid Access Clinic (MDRAC), which is also known as the Rapid Diagnostic Centre RDC and Non Site Specific NSS Cancer pathway, is being paused from Friday 18 August 2023 and will not be able to accept any new USC referrals.
This is to protect patients and make sure they receive the best possible service.
It is anticipated that the service will reopen in December 2023. The service will continue to see those patients who are currently on an open USC pathway or requiring follow up.
All other services are running as usual, including the work we are doing on the Targeted Lung Health Check Programme.
In the meantime, for the Non Site Specific Cancer Pathway, please either refer to an urgent suspected cancer (USC) tumour specific pathway at your local trust, or to another RDC in London if patients are happy to travel further. We are working with our neighbouring trusts to establish additional mutual aid for the next 3 months and agree the referral process. We will be in touch next week with any additional details.
GPs are also reminded of the direct access diagnostic services that are available within 2 weeks:
Tower Hamlets, Newham and Waltham Forest GPs have Direct Access to:
- CT AP – Abdomen/Pelvis Diagnostics – North East London (icb.nhs.uk)
City and Hackney GPs have Direct Access to:
- CT Chest –Download: Direct Access CT Chest – GP Website (cityandhackneyccg.nhs.uk)
- CT CAP – Chest, Abdomen and Pelvis Download: Direct Access for Unintentional Significant Weight Loss – GP Website (cityandhackneyccg.nhs.uk)
We appreciate your understanding and support during this time and apologise for any inconvenience. We are working hard to resolve this as soon as possible.
If you have any problems regarding Non Site Specific Cancer Pathway referrals, or need any additional advice, please email bhnt.rapidaccessdiagnosticclinic@nhs.net and mark as URGENT.
For all other urgent suspected cancer referrals (for tumour specific pathways), please do these in the usual way.