Lung

Lung Expert Advisory Group (EAG)

Lung Cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the UK. Early detection and access to high-quality care can significantly improve outcomes. The Lung Expert Advisory Group (EAG) supports improvements across the diagnostic and treatment pathway for lung cancer patients.

The overall aim of the Lung EAG is to collaborate with and provide specialist advice and guidance to the West Midlands Cancer Alliance (WMCA). This allows for the promotion of best practice, equitable access, and continuous innovation across the region’s lung cancer services.

The Lung EAG looks to ensure consistent, high-quality lung cancer care regardless of geographic or socio-economic factors. Additionally, through collaboration with clinical teams and patient advocates, the EAG looks to develop resources and tools that support timely diagnosis and effective treatment pathways.

 Other key areas

This EAG covers a variety of topics that are outlined below.

Lung Cancer Screening (LCS)

LCS is a central component of the early diagnosis agenda, supporting improved survival rates and more timely interventions for lung cancer patients. The Lung EAG has allowed for the delivery of LCS across the West Midlands, including the integration of LCS into primary care and respiratory referral pathways.

The programme targets those most at risk of lung cancer and contributes to the ambition of the NHS Long Term Plan, which aims to improve early diagnosis and survival for those diagnosed with cancer.

Currently within the West Midlands, we have 5 live Lung Cancer Screening services within Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham & Solihull, Sandwell, Dudley and Coventry & Rugby and North Warwickshire.

If you would like further information on the LCS Programme please visit the information on the patient portal.

Dr Apurna Jegganathan, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Chair of WMCA's Lung Expert Advisory Group, talks to GP Dr Theresa Earl, GP Cancer Lead for Birmingham and Solihull ICB.

They focus on the impact on Secondary Care, highlighting how screening is changing the types of cases presenting to hospitals and the treatments patients subsequently receive. It offers insight into how clinical pathways and service demands are evolving as a result of earlier diagnosis.

You can see another part of this conversation on our Lung Cancer Screening page. This concenrates on the impact of screening on primary care. 

 Thymic Epithelial Tumours (TETs)

Thymic malignancies are rare but clinically significant, requiring coordination between oncology, surgery, and pathology services. Thus, the EAG supports the Regional Thymic Working Group, to develop guidelines and referral criteria for the regional MDT and support requirements for participating in the new UK National Registry.

The UK registry will allow Trusts to gather rich data to increase the quantity and quality of clinical information held about the incidences of these rare tumours, enabling meaningful analysis to derive positive and impactful improvements in patient outcomes, both nationally and for the West Midlands region.

Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs)

NET’s present unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges across the spectrum from typical carcinoids to high-grade small cell carcinomas. The Lung EAG therefore supports the requirement for guidelines to allow for the optimal management of pulmonary NET’s.

This will allow for the strengthening of MDT functions and pathways. Through defining and streamlining referral routes into lung and neuroendocrine-specific MDTs. Allowing patients to gain quicker access to treatment that they need.

Lung Nurse Working Group

One of the key subgroups of the EAG involves Lung Cancer Nurse’s from across the region. The aim of this group is to establish and support the implementation of protocols and guidance for nurse-led clinics throughout the region. Working group meetings are held on a regular basis, allowing both nurses and WMCA colleagues to come together to have meaningful discussions and progress priorities around frameworks and guidance.

We are specifically looking to create guidance around autonomous nurse-led follow-up and personalised-stratified follow-up for patients.

Other Key Achievements

Aside from the above, the EAG is helping to deliver wider impact across the region:

  • Streamlining of MDTs through the EAG
  • Reviewing and updating USC forms
  • Streamlining genomics pathways
  • Improving CWT’s

 Clinical Leads

Chair: Dr Apurna Jegannathen, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, University Hospitals North Midlands NHS Foundation Trust

Deputy Chair: Dr Lakshmi Srinivasan, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon, University Hospitals North Midlands NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Lead: Dr Shahul Khan, Consultant Respiratory Physician, University Hospitals North Midlands NHS Foundation Trust

Documents

docxLung MDT Standards of Care

Useful Links