WP2.1 - New Sarcoma Hub and Spoke Service Can Timely Exclude Malignancy and Effectively Cut Patient Waiting Time for Removal of Benign Lesions

Abstract Aims To assess efficiency of the newly established Sarcoma Hub and Spoke Service (SHSS) through assessment of the length of duration on the Sarcoma 2 week-wait pathway (2WW) and time to surgery for patients already cleared from suspicions of malignancies within one Trust’s Spoke Service. Methods Patients referred to our SHSS on the 2WW who have been cleared from suspicions of malignancies and subsequently underwent removal of lumps/lesions between July 2022 and December 2023 at our Trust were identified from the Hospital Information System. Data is collected on first appointment, time of surgery, as well as time from exclusion of malignancy (Off 2WW) to surgery. Results We identified 119 patients referred to 2WW within the 18-month period, and 90 having had surgery after being taken off 2WW. The median duration from their first appointment to Off 2WW was 37 days (Q1=21d, Q3=61d). The median time from Off 2WW to surgical excision was 132 days (Q1=81d, Q3=202d). Conclusion Given how the ‘traditional’ Sarcoma Pathway at tertiary centres discharges patients cleared from suspicion of malignancies back to GP for them to then refer on on routine pathways to local surgical services, the new SHSS model can investigate and timely exclude malignancies. It is also able to effectively cut waiting time to surgery within the same unit for patients as shown through the acceptable surgery waiting time despite backlog from the recent pandemic and industrial actions. This can also mean decreased workload for both GPs and local General Surgery services.