The Coronavirus pandemic has made the management of patients with suspected colorectal cancer more challenging due to the restrictions placed on endoscopy resources.
The latest NHS specialty guide for patient management during the coronavirus pandemic includes the “Clinical guide for triaging patients with suspected colorectal cancer”. This was produced with acknowledgement to the British Society of Gastroenterology and outlines a guide to primary care to support an appropriate referral to secondary care.
Among the suggested strategies was a range of Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) cut-offs to provide a risk assessment for patients. The HM-JACKarc FIT system is now established in many hospitals throughout the UK and can provide the necessary FIT community testing. This will help triage patients to ensure the most urgent cases are prioritised.
In addition, ALPHA LABORATORIES is providing further support with bespoke patient pack solutions to facilitate distribution and return of the tests, enabling patients to safely collect their samples at home, minimising the risk to themselves and NHS staff.
