Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T08:18:46.436Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the head and neck cancer pathway in the West of Scotland

Part of: JLO Coronavirus Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2022

I Drake ,
A Rogers ,
M Stewart  and
J Montgomery Open the ORCID record for J Montgomery [Opens in a new window]
I Drake
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow, Scotland, UK
A Rogers
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow, Scotland, UK
M Stewart
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow, Scotland, UK
J Montgomery*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow, Scotland, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Ms Jenny Montgomery, Department of ENT, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow, 1345 Govan Road, GlasgowG51 4TF, Scotland, UK E-mail: jenny.montgomery@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has greatly disrupted head and neck cancer services in the West of Scotland. This study aimed to assess the impact of the first wave of the pandemic on cancer waiting times.

Methods

A retrospective review of multidisciplinary team records was undertaken between March and May in 2019 and the same months in 2020. Time-to-diagnosis and time-to-treatment for new cancers treated with curative intent were compared between the study periods, and subclassified by referral pathway.

Results

A total of 236 new cancer patients were included. During the pandemic, pathways benefitted from reduced diagnostic and treatment times resulting from the restructuring of service provisions. A 75 per cent reduction in secondary care referrals and a 33 per cent increase in urgent suspicion of cancer referrals were observed in 2020.

Conclusion

Head and neck cancer pathway times did not suffer because of the coronavirus pandemic. Innovations introduced to mitigate issues brought about by coronavirus benefitted patients, led to a more streamlined service, and improved diagnostic and treatment target compliance.

Keywords

OutpatientsHead And Neck Cancer, Treatment
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 136 , Issue 6 , June 2022 , pp. 535 - 539
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Ms J Montgomery takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

Cancer Research UK. Head and neck cancers statistics. In: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/head-and-neck-cancers [14 February 2021]Google Scholar
Hanna, TP, King, WD, Thibodeau, S, Jalink, M, Paulin, GA, Harvey-Jones, E et al. Mortality due to cancer treatment delay: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2020;371:m4087CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Suspected cancer: recognition and referral. NICE guideline [NG12]. In: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12 [14 February 2021]Google Scholar
Scottish Government. Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer. In: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-referral-guidelines-suspected-cancer-january-2019/ [14 February 2021]Google Scholar
Zeitler, M, Fingland, P, Tikka, T, Douglas, CM, Montgomery, J. Deprivation in relation to urgent suspicion of head and neck cancer referrals in Glasgow. Clin Otolaryngol 2018;43:861–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
ENT UK INTEGRATE Head and Neck Cancer telephone triage service evaluation. In: https://www.entuk.org/sites/default/files/ENT%20UK%20HNC%20telephone%20triage%20interim%20report%201_0.pdf [14 February 2021]Google Scholar
ENT UK. Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs) within the ENT clinic. In: https://www.entuk.org/aerosol-generating-procedures-agps-within-ent-clinic [14 February 2021]Google Scholar
Jackson, T, Deibert, D, Wyatt, G, Durand-Moreau, Q, Adisesh, A, Khunti, K et al. Classification of aerosol-generating procedures: a rapid systematic review. BMJ Open Respir Res 2020;7:e000730CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Anagiotos, A, Petrikkos, G. Otolaryngology in the COVID-19 pandemic era: the impact on our clinical practice. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2021;278:629–36CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Health Protection Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland. Review of national and international guidance on infection prevention and control measures for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs) for COVID-19 (last updated 17 August 2020). In: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/web-resources-container/review-of-national-and-international-guidance-on-infection-prevention-and-control-measures-for-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-and-aerosol-generating-procedures-agps-for-covid-19/ [14 February 2021]Google Scholar
Scottish Government. NHS Scotland performance against LDP standards. In: https://www.gov.scot/publications/nhsscotland-performance-against-ldp-standards/pages/cancer-waiting-times/ [14 February 2021]Google Scholar
McKie, C, Ahmad, UA, Fellows, S, Meikle, D, Stafford, FW, Thomson, PJ et al. The 2-week rule for suspected head and neck cancer in the United Kingdom: referral patterns, diagnostic efficacy of the guidelines and compliance. Oral Oncol 2008;44:851–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tikka, T, Kavanagh, K, Lowit, A, Jiafeng, P, Burns, H, Nixon, IJ et al. Head and neck cancer risk calculator (HaNC-RC)—V.2. Adjustments and addition of symptoms and social history factors. Clin Otolaryngol 2020;45:380–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bann, DV, Patel, VA, Saadi, R, Gniady, JP, Goyal, N, McGinn, JD et al. Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on otolaryngologic surgery: brief commentary. Head Neck 2020;42:1227–34CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Curran, J, Calder, N, Yaneza, M, Iyer, A. Reducing potential aerosol generation in flexible nasolaryngoscopy: a novel method. J Laryngol Otol 2020;134:744–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lammers, MJW, Lea, J, Westerberg, BD. Guidance for otolaryngology health care workers performing aerosol generating medical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020;49:36CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed