A SERVICE that allows people to self-refer themselves for a vital womb cancer diagnostic test has reached its one year milestone.

The post-menopausal bleeding service in Somerset was hailed as a game-changer for those experiencing bleeding after reaching menopause.

Before the service was introduced, patients had to wait around 63 days to be seen by a hospital specialist, and then a possible wait of up to 48 days for a cancer diagnosis.

Thanks to the new service, the wait to see a specialist has reduced to just five days, and patients are getting a cancer diagnosis within 22 days of the referral.

A total of 375 patients referred so far have met the criteria for the service, which means they’re contacted by the NHS within 24 hours for an appointment.

It has also resulted in 13 patients being diagnosed with cancer at an earlier point in time, helping to ensure there are more treatment options available to them.

Since the service began, there has been a significant increase in the number of patients in Somerset being given a cancer diagnosis, or an all-clear result, within 28 days of their referral.

This has increased from just 41 per cent for gynaecology in April 2023 to 76.6 per cent in August 2024, and it was as high as 84 per cent in March 2024.

Womb cancer, or endometrial cancer, is one of the most common cancers that affects older women, and those with a womb, who’ve been through the menopause.

The main symptom of womb cancer is vaginal bleeding or unusual discharge after menopause. Those who aren’t using contraception or HRT who’ve not had a period for over 12 months, are classed as being post-menopausal.

This type of cancer is normally treated with a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the womb), with generally positive clinical outcomes, if found at an early stage.

Traditionally, people used to contact their GP if they had concerns about vaginal bleeding or unusual discharge after the menopause.

This service – a first of its kind in the UK – means that if a person isn’t currently on HRT, or stopped taking HRT at least six weeks ago, they can self-refer via the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust website or by calling the trust’s gynaecology booking team.

Mr David Milliken, a consultant gynaecological oncologist at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Since the new service has gone live, we have seen a steady increase in the number of people self-referring themselves to the service. Our aim is to see up to 50 patients a week in one of the clinics we have established across Somerset.

“We continue to see a year-on-year increase in referrals to our gynaecology cancer services for those who potentially have cancer – mainly those who’re experiencing post-menopausal bleeding.

“We know our GP colleagues have tended to refer their patients to our service if they have post-menopausal bleeding symptoms anyway, so by allowing patients to access our service direct via a self-referral, we have reduced the wait to see a specialist from an average of 63 days to five.