Patients with suspected sarcoma, a rare type of malignant tumour that develops in bone and connective tissue, now benefit from access to specialist diagnostic, surgical and cancer nurse support services all in one day.

In the single visit they undergo an ultrasound scan, MRI and/or a CT scan and guided biopsy on the same day as a surgeon's clinic appointment. Where surgery is needed, patients are offered a date for surgery on the same day with all information provided regarding their admission.

This has reduced the number of individual hospital visits for patients, in some cases appointments have gone from four to only one. 

Sam Higginson, Royal Devon chief executive officer said: ‘The Nightingale Hospital Exeter is helping us reduce waiting times for patients across Devon and beyond. The sarcoma service at the Nightingale Hospital can give patients the tests they need in one visit on one day instead of them waiting more than a month to find out their diagnosis. The co-location of the Devon Diagnostic Centre makes services like this possible.'

Over 800 patients have already been seen through the service and almost all patients who needed an MRI as part of their appointment were able to have it as a one-stop service, ensuring a much-improved patient experience.