By RACHEL SPENCER

A NEW system to speed up care for cancer patients has been set up at Warrington Hospital.

Women with suspected ovarian and pelvic cancer will receive faster hospital treatment at a new, nurse-led rapid access pelvic assessment clinic.

GPs will be able to book on-the-spot appointments for their patients at the clinic, which is based in the woman's day care centre.

Nigel Holland, consultant gynaecologist, said that the new clinic would enable staff to carry out all the necessary initial assesment in one appointment.

Anne Howard, nurse practitioner, said: "Through the clinic, GPs are able to book appointments at the earliest available opportunity. Since it was launched, patient flows have increased and patient satisfaction is much higher."

Nurses at the clinic are also carrying out an ovarian project survey to find out patients' views on the standard of care delivered, to see how they can improve the service.

The results of the survey will be used in conjunction with those from eight other regional projects to produce a strategy aimed at raising awareness of ovarian cancer nationally.