New videos to support people referred to hospital with suspected cancer

Being told you may have cancer and need an urgent hospital referral to find out one way or the other will be one of the most anxious and worrying times in anyone’s life.

Now a suite of five videos has been created which offer information and support and empower people to make positive changes for their health, while they wait for their appointment.

The first video explains the urgent referral process - and emphasises how most people referred to hospital this way do not end up with a cancer diagnosis. The other videos discuss managing anxiety and ways to improve overall health and wellbeing, including physical activity, nutrition and dealing with harmful habits.

The project has been led by Dr Gemma Eccles, Swansea Bays’ Primary Care Cancer Clinical Lead, supported by Jo Horton, Consultant Therapist and Lead for Cancer Therapies.

The videos are believed to be the first offering health optimisation advice for people who have been referred to hospital on an urgent suspected cancer pathway.

Gemma explained: “Our Swansea Bay prehabilitation team have worked together with our patient accessibility group and various health professionals to produce these videos which have now been endorsed by the National Cancer Team.

“The vast majority of patients referred into hospital on urgent suspected cancer pathways will not be diagnosed with cancer. But understandably patients can feel quite anxious and helpless at this time as they are worried that they may have cancer. 

“We wanted to empower them to be able to make positive changes for their health and use their waiting time to get as fit as possible prior to being seen. We also wanted to offer advice on managing the anxious feelings and worry that waiting for an urgent appointment can bring.

“Even if they thankfully do not get a cancer diagnosis, this time is still a great opportunity for people to think about their lifestyle and make changes if there are things they can do to improve their health.”

Jo added: “Urgent suspected cancer appointments can often be given at short notice.  We wanted to make videos to prepare people for what to expect so that they are better able to get ready for their appointment.

“We hope that watching the videos will offer some reassurance to patients who are waiting to be seen, as well as giving some simple tips for improving their health and managing the worry that can come with having an urgent referral.”

The videos have now been endorsed by the National Cancer Team, NHS Wales Performance and Improvement. A statement from their Senior Leadership Team read: “Clear patient communication and reassurance is vital to those who are referred to hospital on an urgent suspected cancer pathway.

“We welcome the production of these bilingual videos by Dr Gemma Eccles and the Swansea Bay University Health Board team. We are confident that the information reflects national guidance and that the videos will be beneficial to patients and clinicians across Wales.”

The videos are available to view on the Swansea Bay UHB website via the ‘Waiting Well’ section, and are also available grouped together on a YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCo7SZSH_W4PMnWHQqLCUeAtcvvjjLP3

They can also be viewed individually via the links below:

English:

Your urgent suspected cancer referral

Managing your feelings whilst waiting for your urgent appointment

Physical activity while waiting for your urgent appointment

Managing smoking and alcohol while waiting for your urgent appointment

Eating well while waiting for your urgent appointment#

Welsh:

Eich atgyfeiriad brys canser a amheuir

Rheoli eich teimladau wrth aros am eich apwyntiad brys

Gweithgarwch Corfforol wrth i chi aros am eich apwytiad brys

Rheoli ysmygu ac alcohol wrth aros am eich apwyntiad brys

Bwyta'n dda wrth aros am eich apwyntiad brys