Doncaster pharmacists can now refer patients with early signs of lung cancer direct to hospital for a chest x-ray as part of a CCG-funded service. 

The scheme, which launched last month, sees pharmacies target smokers or ex-smokers who are 40 or older and have one or more signs of cancer – including persistent cough, unexplained fatigue, or weight loss – according to Doncaster local pharmaceutical committee (LPC) chief officer Nick Hunter. 

Doncaster clinical commissioning group (CCG) will the pay the nine pharmacists delivering the service for each referral, but the amount is yet to be decided, he said. The pharmacy then receives a report on the x-ray and must ensure that any adverse results are acted on, Mr Hunter said.

Pharmacists on the scheme – who have received free training to recognise early cancer signs – have already referred one patient, and Mr Hunter told C+D last week (September 28) that he expects each pharmacy to make between six and 12 referrals during the year-long service.

To be eligible for referral, patients must be registered with a GP who has signed up for the scheme, Mr Hunter said. If they are not, the pharmacist can signpost the patient to their own GP or "another form of urgent care", he said.

The service launched because of the CCG's poor record with early cancer diagnosis, and Mr Hunter hopes the service would be "extended and expanded" if it proves successful. 

“What is the point of a patient being sent to their GP just for a direct referral? There is no reason why we couldn't be looking at skin cancer, and possibly breast cancer,” he added.