Prior to the setting up of RDCs, these patients would potentially have poorer experience, later diagnoses and poorer outcomes compared with other patients referred on traditional tumour-specific pathways.
The RDC model addresses this inequality in Wales by offering a vague symptom pathway for patients with non-specific but concerning symptoms which may indicate cancer.
Following the success of the pilots, the Wales Cancer Network collaborated with colleagues and organisations from across NHS Wales to implement a national programme of RDCs across Wales.
There is now an RDC service up and running in five of the seven Welsh health boards, with Cardiff & Vale’s RDC currently being developed with the aim of going live very soon and Powys patients having access to RDCs in adjacent health boards.