Remote monitoring introduced for urological cancer patients

Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust has set up a remote monitoring service for urological cancer patients, freeing up thousands of appointments, and giving follow up patients a far better and more efficient service.

The service was established because urological cancer patients were coming into hospital for unnecessary follow up appointments, causing them inconvenience and disruption, and taking up appointment slots that could be used for patient care.

Using a new system the team can now monitor a patient’s diagnostic tests, including blood tests and MRI tests, without them attending hospital.

When the results are received, they decide if they are acceptable, if the patient can continue monitoring, or if not, what the next action is. This is then communicated to the patient.

So far 2,274 patients have moved from traditional, hospital-based prostate cancer follow-up to the remote monitoring pathway. This has freed up approximately 7,470 appointment slots, allowing resources to be focused where they’re needed most, such as direct patient care. The majority of follow-up for all urological cancers is now conducted remotely.

Howard Speight, 77, from Wakefield, said: “Being on remote monitoring was scary when first told. It felt as though I had support taken away. What I have found is that I am able to live my life as I want now and not around appointments. I used to be anxious when these came around, but not anymore as they are not there.

“There is more support now, as I know I can ring the team when needed and get the answers quickly or be seen if needed. I’m not as worried as I was. It’s changed the way I think of my follow up.”