Improving the cancer pathway from the impact of Covid-19
CF has been working with a pharmaceutical client for over 18 months to identify opportunities for how they can help cancer patients in England, and enable and support them to do so.
Problem
The diagnostic and treatment pathways for patients with cancer have been severely affected by Covid-19. The client’s drive was to engage the healthcare system in the most efficient way to identify points for intervention to drive better outcomes for current and future cancer patients.
Approach
CF partnered with the client to engage cancer clinicians, key opinion leaders (KOLs) and patients through interviews, workshops and round-table discussions. The initial approach was based on bringing people together to reflect on how patients have been affected. Later phases of work moved from assessing the impact to discussing how the client could support the greatest change.
Solution
The initial engagement, analysis and modelling led to a report on the impact of Covid-19 on cancer patients, published in August 2020. This added to awareness-raising amongst both the public and policymakers. This analysis was updated regularly and was recently published.
Following the initial publication, discussions were used to identify key themes for the client to take forward. Three key themes were distilled from discussions, focusing on reimagining cancer care, promoting better use of cancer data and promoting knowledge of genomics in relation to cancer treatment. These themes were expanded and explored in collaboration with the client
Opportunities have since been narrowed down, and are currently in development and pilot stages. For example, CF and the pharmaceutical client are working with a digital start-up to pilot a new way to fast-track individuals on the cancer diagnostic pathway for earlier diagnosis. CF is also in discussion with certain ICSs on a demand and capacity tool based on early dashboard products developed with the client making use of the large amounts of publicly-available aggregated data on cancer patients.
Impact
The work with CF’s pharmaceutical client has had wide-reaching attention. The analysis on the impact of Covid-19 on cancer care was picked up by several UK newspapers. The ongoing successful relationship with our client has led to delivery of a wide range of outputs from comprehensive reports, expert led webinars to publications making national news. It is through the in-depth subject matter expertise and the relationships built that we are in the unique position to recognise the potential for this work and bring the necessary partners together to make the project happen.
