Non-Specific Symptoms (NSS) - Referrer experience survey

This survey has two parts:

1. We would like to obtain information about your experience of the Non-Specific Symptoms (NSS) cancer pathways.  

Non-Specific Symptoms (NSS) pathways are intended to cover the cohort of patients who do not fit clearly into a single “urgent cancer” referrals pathway, as defined by NICE Guidance 12, but who are, nonetheless, at risk of being diagnosed with cancer. Symptoms considered non-specific include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain, or nausea; and/or a GP gut feeling about cancer.  Historically, this cohort of patients often:

• saw their GP multiple times before referrals,
• presented more often in an emergency setting,
• presented with late-stage cancer, and
• were referred on multiple urgent pathways with resulting inefficiencies in healthcare provision. 

NSS services are part of a broader strategy set out in the NHS Long Term Plan to deliver faster diagnosis of cancer and other conditions.

2. We would like to understand what diagnostic pathways you would use if non-Specific Symptoms (NSS) pathways were not available.

This will enable us to develop a counterfactual.  A ‘counterfactual’ measures what would have happened to patients in the absence of a certain intervention (in this case, the Non-Specific Symptoms pathways), and the impact is estimated by comparing possible alternative (i.e. counterfactual) outcomes to those observed under the intervention.

The survey should not take more than 10 minutes to complete. We appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback. 

Thank you