TRexit: tackling delays in cancer diagnosis

‘TRexit’ is a national initiative that could see a move away from transrectal (TRUS) biopsy, requiring an anaesthetic, to performing transperineal biopsy under local anaesthetic. Technology developments in this field have the potential to lower costs, shorten waiting lists and improve patient safety.

Statistics¹ released by NHS England have shown that hundreds of thousands of patients across the country are now waiting more than a year to receive hospital treatment – a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these include cancer patients. Analysis of NHS England data² shows that 1.85 million urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs between March last year and January this year – a 16% drop on the 2.2 million in the same period the year before. 

This backlog is concerning to many healthcare professionals, with a recent survey³ finding that 70% of respondents are concerned about the backlog of procedures at their hospital Trust, and 68% believing that delays to surgical procedures are having a negative impact on patient outcomes.