Rapid Diagnostic Navigator

The Rapid Diagnostic Navigator will take responsibility for the implementation, delivery and evaluation of a new service for patients who are referred to the diagnostic Colorectal and Upper GI services at North Bristol Trust with a suspected cancer. They will be part of the wider cancer service working closely with Colorectal and Upper GI cancer clinicians, the Upper GI and Colorectal cancer clinical nurse specialists, cancer support workers, diagnostic teams, Cancer Services, psychology and allied health care professionals.

From the point of referral to the cancer pathway this new role will facilitate the smooth running of the patient journey by ensuring that coordinated and streamlined clinical and administrative processes revolve around the patient and their individual needs. The success of the pathway relies on close team working and a vital input and coordination of the patient pathway.

The post holder will organise and liaise with the clinical teams and Cancer Services to manage the planned checkpoints throughout a patient’s diagnostic pathway and support the clinical team, in ensuring the speciality is able to deliver timely, safe and effective services.

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the General Surgery Department at Southmead Hospital to support a busy team in the elective recovery following the Covid -19 Pandemic.

The role of the Rapid Diagnostic Navigator will be to facilitate the smooth running of the diagnostic pathway by ensuring that co-ordinated and streamlined clinical and administrative processes revolve around the patient and their individual needs. To provide information and support about tests, investigations, cancer and cancer services, to enable people to navigate the health and social care system and make choices that are best for their cancer and their life.

A key aspect of the role involves daily and direct (e.g. face to face and telephone) communication with patients, relatives, carers, and other health and social care professionals from of referral at point of suspicion of Colorectal/Upper GI cancer. The information and nature of the communication required is sensitive due to the nature of cancer. Communication in this context requires a high degree of empathy, understanding, diplomacy, honesty and integrity.

The role requires good customer care skills, empathy, understanding, patience, good problem solving skills and the ability to prioritise work load.

This is a fixed position for approx. 12 months.

If you wish to discuss this role any further, please contact Mitchell Hopes
- OP Support Manager - 0117 414 4074

The General Surgery Department delivers emergency and elective services at Southmead Hospital. The consultant surgeons provide a General Surgery service primarily but not exclusively to the Trust’s catchment population including a 24-hour continuous emergency service. Emergency vascular surgery is also undertaken in the Brunel Building and is the main hub for arterial work in the region.

The Upper GI team has particular expertise in laparoscopic antireflux/hiatus hernia and bile duct surgery. They also undertake bariatric surgery as a specialist centre and undertake a large volume of endoscopy, including under GA.

The Colorectal team performs the full range of open and laparoscopic procedures, including cancers, and is a specialist unit delivering pelvic floor surgery. They also have a strong reputation for developing new surgical techniques, for example TATME (Trans-Anal Total Mesorectal Excision).

The General Surgery and Endocrine team perform a full range of hernia, thyroids and parathyroid procedures, both open and laparoscopic, and also undertake kidney transplants having dedicated LKD (live kidney donor) theatre lists and a full transplant on call rota.
- To take responsibility for the early identification of potential breaches in relation to treatment or patients delayed in diagnostic pathways. To be responsible for the escalation of such issues through the Colorectal /Upper GI cancer team to enable relevant actions to be taken to overcome problems with meeting targets
- The Rapid Diagnostic Navigator and administrative Co-ordinators will work together to ensure cross cover and continuity of service to ensure timely, safe and effective services.
- To support clinical teams and help identify and implement pathway changes that will improve compliance with national waiting times standards for cancer