Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is sponsoring a study exploring the relevance and effectiveness of the 1939 Cancer Act in an increasingly digital world, it has shared.
Since the Act’s publication, the way health information is shared and accessed has changed “dramatically”, the trust states, with information widely available via the internet and social media.
Led by Priya Joshi, consultant oncologist at RCHT, the study will seek to understand how patients find information on areas such as cancer diagnoses and treatment plans, “with a particular focus on the role of digital media in meeting information needs”.
Joshi explains that whilst the Cancer Act was designed to protect patients against false claims at a time when information was far less accessible, “with the internet and social media shaping health decisions, it’s vital to understand whether this legislation still meets its objective of protecting patients, or what reform might be beneficial for patients”.
Patients aged 18 and over in England and Wales who have been treated for cancer in the last three years, as well as healthcare professionals involved in cancer care, are invited to contribute to the research via an online survey.
The patient survey asks patients about how often they used online information prior to and following diagnosis, and for what purposes (i.e. to find out more about their treatment). It also records use of chatbots such as ChatGPT.
The survey designed for healthcare professionals asks about how helpful online information is for patients seeking information to support them with their cancer journey, whether patients using this type of information tend to be better informed ahead of consultations, and how patient online and social media research impacts consultation flow.
“Your input will help us understand the interaction between this historic law, modern technology, and current cancer care information availability in the UK,” RCHT states.
Wider trend: Digital patient
East London NHS Foundation Trust has outlined its use of data in informing patient care and patient flow, deploying digital screens, interactive dashboards, and PowerBI. 22 wards across the trust now have digital screens showcasing real-time data on aspects of flow, safety, care plans, observation status, Mental Health Act status, key assessments, and expected discharge date. Co-designed with clinicians and service users, the screens update every 15 minutes, supporting safety huddles, team meetings, and handovers.
Patient initiated follow up appointments have been integrated into the NHS App at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, said to promote convenience for patients on PIFU pathways in requesting, confirming, rebooking, or cancelling appointments. Integration with the NHS App follows a successful trial which took place on a single PIFU pathway earlier in December, with integration now planned for all PIFU pathways. “It’s estimated around 8,000 PIFU appointment pathways could benefit from the integration by the end of 2026,” the trust states.
A patient engagement portal developed by a team in-house at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay has reportedly saved close to £3 million, UHMB has shared. The portal is now utilised across Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, including Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
