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Rapid Diagnostic Clinic (RDC)

The rollout of Rapid Diagnostic Clinics (RDCs) across England is designed to speed up diagnosis of cancer and other serious conditions.

The RDC is for patients experiencing unexplained symptoms that their doctor suspects could indicate a serious condition, including cancer. Patients referred to our service are initially placed on a cancer pathway to ensure the investigations are done quickly.

GPs and hospital doctors can refer patients to the RDC when their symptoms do not meet the referral criteria for other cancer or specialist services.

South East London has three Rapid Diagnostic Clinics. They are based at:

  • Princess Royal University Hospital (Orpington)
  • Guy’s Hospital (Southwark)
  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Woolwich)

Your GP can refer you to the clinic closest to the location you live at.

All referrals are reviewed by a clinician before an appointment is arranged. This ensures the patient has been referred to the correct service.

Sometimes, a referral might need the expertise of another team or pathway. If this is the case, we will speak to the referring doctor and patient to advise what should be done.

Unexplained symptoms

Changes to your body’s normal processes can sometimes be a sign of cancer that needs to be further investigated in the RDC or another cancer service, depending on your symptoms.

Symptoms may include:

  • unexplained or unintentional weight loss
  • loss of, or reduced, appetite
  • persistent abdominal pain or discomfort
  • persistent back pain
  • persistent nausea and/or vomiting
  • unexplained tiredness
  • abnormal lumps or bumps

The RDC Team

Your appointment will be with one of our medical consultants or advanced nurse practitioners. You will also have contact with our team administrator and clinical support worker.

  • Dr Srikanth Akunuri – General Medicine Consultant
  • Rita Busungu – Clinical Support Worker
  • Bronagh Donnelly – Advanced Nurse Practitioner
  • Dr Elisabetta Fabris – General Medicine Consultant
  • Dr Harriet Kurylec – GP
  • Michael Laggah- Administrator
  • Caroline Wynne-Jones – Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Appointments

Your first appointment will be face to face at one of our clinics at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) or Orpington Hospital. Our clinics are held Tuesday to Friday.

Clinic details

  • Tuesday: Orpington Hospital, Outpatient Department, 1pm to 5pm
  • Wednesday: PRUH, Farnborough Ward (Level 2), 1.30pm to 5pm
  • Thursday: PRUH, Farnborough Ward (Level 2), 9am to 1pM
  • Friday: PRUH, Outpatients C (Level 1), 9am to 1pm

Please inform us as soon as possible if you cannot attend your appointment.

Tel: 01689 863191

Assistance

Please inform us in advance if you have any hearing, visual, mobility or any other conditions that you need support with at your appointment.

If you need an interpreter, we can arrange this for you. If possible, please inform us of your needs before your appointment.

Preparing for your appointment

We recommend you bring a friend or family member to your appointment, as a lot of information is discussed. Your friend or family member can provide you with support and remind you to ask certain questions or write down answers to questions while you listen.

Please bring the following with you to your appointment:

  • list of your medications
  • any medical information you have from other healthcare organisations (including private and international if applicable)

What can I expect at my appointment?

When you arrive, you will check in with our receptionist. They will take your details and ask you to take a seat. One of our healthcare assistants will check your height, weight and blood pressure. You may also be asked to complete a health questionnaire. You will then be called through to a private consultation room where you will meet the doctor or nurse that is looking after you.

Your first appointment will be 30 to 45 minutes long. You will be asked questions about the problem you have been referred to us for and how it is impacting on your life. You will need an examination, this can be done in the presence of a chaperone.

To help investigate your symptoms further, we may arrange for you to have the following on the same day:

You may need to attend the hospital on another date to have further tests or imaging. These may include:

You doctor or nurse will follow you up in an outpatient appointment with the results of your completed investigations.

We aim to discuss these results with you as soon as they are available or on the next working day. Your clinician will give you an estimated time for the result. We aim for all results to be back within 28 days.

What happens after your appointment?

Once your tests are complete, we will follow up with you either by telephone or with another clinic appointment to discuss your results.

Your treatment plan will depend on the outcome of your tests and investigations. This may include:

  • referral back to your GP with recommendations
  • referral to another clinical team for treatment
  • further tests and investigations

Patient experience questionnaire

Patient feedback is important to us. It helps us understand what we’re doing well and identifies areas we can improve.

After any appointment with our team, we encourage you to complete our short questionnaire.

Thank you for helping us provide the best possible care.

How do I contact the Rapid Diagnostic Clinic?

You can call us Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4pm, on 01689 863191.

We have an answering machine, so please leave a message. We aim to get back to you within 24 hours or on the next working day.

Useful link

Understanding cancer symptoms (Macmillan Cancer Support)