A LEADING surgeon at James Paget Hospital is spearheading the first study of its kind in the world designed to standardise and improve reconstructive services for breast cancer patients throughout the UK.
A LEADING surgeon at James Paget Hospital is spearheading the first study of its kind in the world designed to standardise and improve reconstructive services for breast cancer patients throughout the UK.
Professor Jerome Pereira, consultant in general and oncoplastic breast surgery at the hospital, has helped produce the National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit's second annual report.
The study has looked in detail at access to reconstructive surgery across the country, patterns of care and patient outcomes. A number of recommendations to standardise and improve care have been made to cancer networks as a result.
The audit, which has been funded by the Healthcare Commission, began life as a study started by Prof Pereira ten years ago, when he began auditing the experience of his patients and the outcome of surgery which he had carried out himself.
His work was heralded as best practice, extended across the eastern region shortly afterwards and found a place on the national stage in 2002.
For the past few years, surgeons around the country have been following Prof Pereira's lead and completing the same audits - the results of which have now been incorporated into the wider audit.
Prof Pereira said: “This is the first study of its kind in the world, and is strongly led by breast and plastic surgeons in the UK.
“It is designed to give us a full picture of exactly what is happening with patients who need reconstructive surgery while measuring patient satisfaction with their care pathway and outcome.
“We hope it will set a benchmark for future standards which will ensure every single appropriate patient in the UK who undergoes a mastectomy is able to undergo immediate reconstruction, should they wish to. We are encouraged to note that immediate reconstruction rates have doubled to 21.1pc since the start of the study.”
The second annual report is available by visiting http://www.ic.nhs.uk/services/national-clinical-audit-support-programme-ncasp/audit-reports/mastectomy-and-breast-reconstruction.
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