Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust has launched a new thoracoscopy service to help diagnose lung cancer quicker.
The procedure investigates unexplained fluid (pleural effusions) between the chest wall and the lungs. The fluid is drained and staff perform a biopsy on the membrane lining the chest wall.
This has helped the trust to quickly diagnose fluid on the lungs and streamline treatment for patients with a cancer diagnosis.
Previously, patients would have been admitted to a different trust for a biopsy under general anaesthetic. This new procedure can be done under local anaesthetic at the trust’s Endoscopy Clinical Decision Unit at Queen’s Hospital.
Since the trust’s respiratory and endoscopy teams started the service they have completed around 60 cases which were all successful.
As well as better care for patients, it’s giving more opportunities for the trust’s resident doctors training in respiratory medicine and its endoscopy nurses to develop their skills and learn how to complete a successful thoracoscopy.
Consultant Respiratory Physician, Robin Johns said: “We’re very proud of our new thoracoscopy service at Queen’s Hospital. This achievement has been possible by hard work and collaboration from multiple teams across BHRUT and colleagues at others trusts who offered their support and expertise to help start this service.
“We’re one of only a few centres in London to offer this service and have been able to speed up diagnosis for patients with cancer-related pleural effusion so they can be treated sooner.”
