What is the purpose of the NSS pathway?

The non-site specific (NSS) service provides a full range of diagnostic services for people who have non specific signs or symptoms and who do not fit clearly into a single ‘site specific’ referral pathway. Symptoms considered ‘non-specific’ that can cause worry include: unexplained weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain or nausea and/or a GP ‘gut feeling’ about cancer. These symptoms are called ‘non-specific’ as they affect the whole person.

There are pre-referral investigations which may include blood tests, a urine sample, a chest x-ray and a FIT (Faecal immunochemical test) before you are referred into the NSS service in order for patients to have the most effective triage process.

What will I have to do when on this pathway?

Most patients referred into the NSS service are telephone triaged by one of our clinical nurse specialists to assess your symptoms to identify any additional investigations you may need, such as a CT scan, ultrasound, colonoscopy, gastroscopy or a further blood test. Some patients can be invited to attend a clinic appointment face to face.

Patients are then discussed in a weekly multi-disaplinary team (MDT) meeting. This is where a doctor and other health professionals involved in your care decide on the best investigations and management plan for you. After input from the MDT, various tests may be required before the team have reached a cancer diagnosis or have ruled out any serious illness . You would then be contacted by one of the CNS’s to discuss the outome of the MDT meeting and a summary will be sent to your referring GP.

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS):

All the members of the non-site specific clinical nurse specialist team have expertise and experience in assisting with patients and carers concerns including:

• information about disease illness, investigations and treatments
• advice about any symptoms
• support for patients, relatives and carers
• Your CNS is likely to be your main contact at the hospital

Our non-site specific clinical nurse specialists are:

• Claire Parkinson – Non-site specific CNS
• Sarah Haston – Non-site Specific CNS

Patient Navigator

Patient navigators are the first and single point of contact for all questions and queries, and will help guide each person referred into the NSS service through their health service journey from detection, investigations and diagnosis. They will listen to you, establish what needs to happen, assess who else needs to be involved and take responsibility for ensuring the right outcome. Navigators can also provide support and help to find additional support provided by other organisations. They are part of the multidisciplinary team supporting individual patients, and ensuring joined-up care.

Patient Navigators work very closely with the clinical nurse specialists, so if someone calls with a clinical question, the navigators ensure that a CNS returns their call.

Our patient navigator is: Caroline Sowerbutts

Our NSS team is made up of specialist nurses, doctors, radiologists and pathologists to ensure patients get the best treatment.

Our doctors are:

• Dr Alan Hart-Thomas – consultant specialised in non-site specific
• Dr Graham Summers – visiting GP who runs a clinic on a Friday

The NSS clinical nurse specialist team are happy for you to contact them to discuss anything you feel is important to you and will treat anything you discuss as confidential.

The NSS clinical nurse specialist team provide a link and point of contact for you and your family and are your designated key worker.

Tel: 01535 292981

Email: