Cancer Genomics Improvement Programme

The Genomics Unit set up the Cancer Genomics Improvement Programme (CGIP) to ensure that regions significantly improve end-to-end turnaround times for solid tumours and haemato-oncology services, to meet the turnaround times approved by the Cancer Programme in 2023.

The CGIP aims to achieve clinically defined, end-to-end turnaround times for solid tumours and haematological cancers, in response to pressure from NHSE Cancer Programme and clinical teams for improvement.

The CGIP supports the implementation of new turnaround times with three key activities:

• A national team oversees the programme, working with regional teams and tumour-site experts, monitoring action plans, and ensuring knowledge sharing.
• Tumour-site experts optimize clinical and tissue pathways for 14 key tumour types, guiding innovative practices and educating regional teams.
• Regional Quality Improvement teams identify delays, create action plans, and collaborate with the national team and tumour-site experts to implement and share innovations.

The CGIP aims to utilise the following approach:

• Establish a Quality Improvement team, secure local stakeholder support for innovations, and leverage growing evidence to enhance turnaround times.
• Develop and review an Action Plan with the national team.
• Implement improvements to meet new turnaround time standards.
• Collaborate with tumour-site experts to introduce new tissue pathways and involve local experts in national teams for guidance and oversight.

 Outcome or intended outcome:

• Histopathology and Genomic analysis will be delivered within an appropriate clinical timescale to inform treatment and management decisions for cancer patients.
• A pathway for the implementation of new technologies and interventions that improve treatment for cancer patients.
• A future-proof network that supports the equitable and timely delivery of services for cancer patients.
• Cancer patients and their treating clinicians will be provided with the appropriate, and up-to-date information that informs their treatment, including entry into clinical trials.

Through the CGIP, Central and South Genomics is aiming to achieve the following:

• Gaining better insight into delays in current sample pathways to address logistical and informatics challenges.
• Supporting embedding of CPGCs.
• Improving genomic analysis processes across pre-analytical, analytical, and reporting stages.
• Facilitating the introduction of new pathways.
• Promoting innovations and sharing best-practice solutions to improve turnaround times.

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