The MUO service makes sense for patients, cancer diagnostic pathways, the health board and for Wales; it delivers excellent patient care and saves diagnostic pathway time.
Dr Anna Mullard ― Consultant Medical Oncologist
This project saw the expansion of the Malignancy of Unknown Origin (MUO) pathway across each of the three District General Hospital sites in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Prior to this work all patients in primary care, secondary outpatients or those discharged from hospital were not eligible for the MUO service. As a result, many were diagnosed during an emergency hospital admission and remained in hospital whilst further investigations were carried out.
Our funding has facilitated the expansion of the service to now include referrals from primary care, rapid diagnostic clinics and secondary care outpatients, enabling patients to come under the full care of the Unknown Primary team. The service allows for timely investigation and follow up of patients by a team with the experience and knowledge of MUO. The patient if they wish, and are well enough, can remain at home with the confidence that they are cared for. The pathway also minimises the need for GPs and other non-specialist secondary services to be involved and thus reduces the risk of delay in patients receiving the appropriate care.
The expanded pathway has resulted in improved patient care, with more timely diagnosis and better communication with the specialist MUO team . The success of the pathway has also significantly reduced admissions and patients that are admitted are more likely to be discharged sooner.
As of July 2023, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has guaranteed the continuation of the expanded MUO service across all 3 sites.