CDS tools are available to support healthcare professionals to identify appropriate diagnostic tests and referral routes.
These are some of the tools which are free for colleagues to use and may support clinical practice. NB the list is not exhaustive and some practices may also have access to other paid-for/subscription tools.
| Tool | What does it do? | Where do I find more information? | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Risk Assessment Tools (RAT) | Cancer Research UK hosts The Risk Assessment Tools (RAT) that were developed by Professor Willie Hamilton. They are designed to be used in symptomatic populations that present to primary care. They can help GPs decide which patients need further investigation or referral. | rats.pdf (cancerresearchuk.org) |
 | QCancer® | QCancer® calculates the risk of a patient having a current but undiagnosed cancer, taking account of their risk factors and current symptoms. It does not give a cancer diagnosis, but a risk. The QCancer® algorithms have been developed by Julia Hippisley-Cox and Carol Coupland and are based on data that is routinely collected from many thousands of GPs across the country who have freely contributed data to the QResearch® database for medical research. | QCancer® |
 | The Macmillan Cancer Decision Support Tool | The Cancer Decision Support (CDS) Tool helps GPs with clinical decision making. It encourages GPs to 'think cancer' and shows the risk of patients having an undiagnosed cancer.
The tool calculates the risk of cancer based on coded information in the patient's file, including: • symptoms • medical history • demographic data | Prevention and diagnosis resources for healthcare professionals (macmillan.org.uk) |
 | Ardens NG12 Symptom and Findings Analyser | The 'NG12 Symptom & Findings Analyser' can be used to help identify if a patient's symptoms and findings match the NG12 Suspected Cancer Guidelines. NB – The majority of practices across the Thames Valley have access to Ardens. Whilst this is a paid for service, the tool is free for any practice already using Ardens Pro. | Cancer Resources Overview : Ardens Healthcare Informatics |
 | GatewayC Cancer Maps | The Cancer Maps is an interactive online tool based on the NICE guideline NG12 cancer guidelines, designed to be used during consultations to help clinicians with possible cancer symptoms. A tutorial is embedded within the website and explains how the maps can be used. The main central branches represent the organs or systems; these are followed by the NICE advice (cancer referral, investigation etc) and, as the branches become more peripheral, the red flag symptoms are listed. | CancerMaps (gatewayc.org.uk) |
‘Safety netting is a diagnostic management strategy that aims to ensure patients are monitored throughout their diagnostic process until their symptoms or signs are explained and results have been acted upon or their symptoms are resolved.’ (CRUK, 2020).
Many different tools help support GPs with providing robust safety netting advice to patients. Additionally, many of the tools record safety netting advice given on the clinical system. This is often found particularly helpful by practices as safety netting is a requirement of the PCN DES (see above for further information).
Many practices across the Thames Valley region have access to Ardens. If you have access, further information about safety netting templates and processes can be found on the Ardens website.
Further information on safety netting