Our work on improving the treatment of Barrett’s Oesophagus - a disease of the gullet which can lead to oesophageal cancer - has been shortlisted in the Modernising Diagnostics category at the HSJ Awards. Not least because the team has also completely caught up with assessing these patients since the pandemic – just one of a handful of trusts to do so.

As with many areas of healthcare, endoscopy waiting times were profoundly affected during and after the pandemic. This effect was felt most keenly in Barrett’s Oesophagus. Patients are meant to have a surveillance procedure every 1 to 5 years and this leads to earlier diagnosis of oesophageal cancer and better outcomes. As a result of the pandemic, patients with Barrett’s Oesophagus had markedly longer waiting times for their surveillance.

The Trust worked to bring in a procedure called Cytosponge to ensure these patients got timely assessment and treatment. The Cytosponge is a new technology where patients swallow a sponge on a string, which is withdrawn to yield an accurate sample for investigation.

It is much better tolerated than an endoscopy and can be done outside of our endoscopy suites. The Cytosponge team, made up of a dedicated group of Advanced Clinical Practitioners and Physician Associates - pictured - worked hard to deliver more than 200 sponges in 2022.

This led to the Trust being one of a few around the UK that has completely caught up with surveillance of patients with Barrett’s Oesophagus. The feedback from patients has been excellent and there have been some early cancers that have been diagnosed which may have otherwise been missed.

Consultant in Upper GI, Bariatric and General Surgery, Arin Saha, said: “The team has been fantastic in delivering this project with such high-quality outcomes and the project is also an excellent example of collaboration across teams. It has relied upon support and funding from the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance and the enthusiasm and determination of colleagues across the Trust, including Deputy Director of Operations in Surgery Laura Cooper, Lead Cancer Manager Maureen Overton and the endoscopy teams who have worked well to support the project.

“It’s amazing new technology and our organisation has shown a willingness to embrace innovation to speed up cancer diagnosis”.

Word is out and the team have been asked by the Alliance to support local trusts, and the tea will be visiting Barnsley too.  

Pictured are the Cytopsonge Team: ACP Hannah Olejnik and PAs Tyler Megson and Claire McDonald.