An (Advanced) Clinical Nurse Specialist led Model for suspected prostate cancer, with the aim to improve the flow from triage to diagnostics up until decision to treat.

Background: Globally, prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in men worldwide [1,2].

In the United Kingdom alone, prostate cancer is recognised as one of the most common cancers that affect a total of 52,252 men from the years 2016-2018, with a 78% survival [3,4].

Urological departments are required to see all suspected cancer referrals within 2 weeks [5], which has led to significant resource implications nationally.

In a rapidly changing healthcare landscape where the prevalence of cancer is forecast to increase, financial pressures to deliver cost-effective and timely healthcare will continue to increase.

It is therefore essential to develop a workforce that is highly skilled, competent, and cost effective to meet the growing complex needs of cancer patients [6].

The utilization of highly skilled and competent urology practitioners regionally and nationally, have demonstrated that they can deliver safe and clinically effective care, with high levels of satisfaction with improved patient outcomes [6,7].

To date, there are no recent published studies that explore trialling a nurse led model from triage to diagnostics and decision to treat.

Aims: to develop, implement and evaluate a nurse-led optimal prostate model in NHS Fife from referral to diagnosis and decision to treat.

Methods: Using a modified Delphi analysis approach, a panel of Urological Prostate Cancer Specialists will be asked to review the management plans of a convenience sample of 50 randomly selected patients.

In addition, cost analysis, waiting times and performance, patient satisfaction and patient demographical information will be obtained.

The views of urology consultants, specialist nurses and patients will be sought pre and post project asking the personal views concerning the expansion of specialist nursing roles as part of the project.

Value: Will demonstrate that a Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist approach to the assessment and management of suspected prostate cancer referrals will provide an effective approach to care in an ever-demanding healthcare service.

We will improve patient experience by identifying bottlenecks, reduce waits between steps, with the overall aim being to improve the overall flow of prostate cancer patients from triage to diagnostics and decision to treat.

The working group (WG) will conduct a combined scalability [8] and evaluability [9] assessment, with the research team gathering further data as required to fill in any missing gaps.

The WG will use the Intervention Scalability Assessment Tool (ISAT) to determine recommendations regarding scale up, and the Evaluability Assessment to determine recommendations for improvements.