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Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic telephone two-week-wait referrals in head and neck cancer – how safe were they?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2023
Abstract
Objective
During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, ENT-UK recommended a move from face-to-face clinics to telephone appointments. This study reviewed the safety of telephone clinics for urgent two-week-wait cancer referrals.
Methods
Patients consulted in telephone clinics between April and November 2020 were identified from an electronic database. Study patients included those diagnosed with malignant disease at six months. The Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 score, outcome of the initial clinic and final diagnoses were reviewed.
Results
A total of 1062 patients were triaged in clinic; 9.2 per cent (n = 98) were diagnosed with cancer at 6 months. Of these 98 patients, 69 received an urgent face-to-face appointment, 26 underwent urgent scans and 3 had a delayed telephone review. Twenty patients (20.4 per cent) diagnosed with cancer had a low-risk Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator score.
Conclusion
The late diagnosis rate of 0.28 per cent suggests a small proportion of cancer could have been missed. Telephone clinics, whilst a pragmatic means to maintain patient flow during the pandemic, could result in late diagnoses.
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- Copyright
- Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED
Footnotes
Kin Lun Lau takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper
This research was presented at the North of England Otolaryngology Society Autumn Meeting, 4 October 2021, online.
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