We spotlight newly published patient insights that informed our Case for Change on bowel cancer, share an update on our work to improve equity of access to life-extending treatment in Wales, and explore how colleagues across NHS Wales are benefitting from our Keith James Grants to learn, connect and lead change. We also highlight a key milestone for Wales, where capsule sponge tests have now been integrated into the patient pathway in North Wales.
At Moondance Cancer Initiative, we remain focused on supporting brilliant people and brave ideas to make Wales a world leader in cancer survival. Get in touch if you’d like to hear more about our work—or have an idea to explore.
Progress in Cancer Care: A New Service for Wales
In May 2022, we funded the establishment of the All-Wales Colorectal Peritoneal Metastasis Service. The service offers a combination of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)—a life-extending and, in some cases, curative treatment—for eligible patients.
While this treatment has been routinely available in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, there was previously no centre in Wales. Patients here had faced significant barriers to access, including navigating case-by-case approval processes or, in some cases, relocating to another country for care.
To date, more than 40 patients in Wales have received treatment through the new service.
Diane, the first patient treated at the centre, shared her experience and the impact of accessing care closer to home. Watch Diane's story
Victoria’s story, recently featured by the BBC, further highlights why securing sustainable funding is critical for patients across the country.
A huge thank you to Diane and Victoria for sharing their experiences and to the team at Cardiff & Vale University Health Board. Moondance is proud to support this work—and remains committed to securing long-term NHS funding for the service.
Global Learning, Local Impact: Keith James Grants
Our Keith James Grants are enabling NHS Wales professionals to travel across the UK and internationally to attend events, access specialist training, and explore innovative approaches to care—all with a shared aim: to improve cancer services and enhance patient outcomes here in Wales.
Recent recipients have participated in a variety of activities, including:
Attending the Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) Symposium in London, focusing on advanced prostate cancer treatments.
Participating in the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Paris, gaining insights into the latest oncology research and practices.
Engaging in a specialist workshop on robotic surgical techniques in Amsterdam, enhancing skills in minimally invasive procedures.
These experiences are equipping NHS professionals with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to bring back to their roles in Wales. You can explore more examples of funded activities and grant recipients via the interactive map on our website.
Keith James Grants are open to NHS Wales professionals working in cancer services—whether clinical, medical or administrative. Funding is available to individuals and groups to access:
(1) EVENTS, EDUCATION & TRAINING - building skills, knowledge and connections that can be used to directly improve cancer services in Wales
(2) VISITS - anywhere in the world, to bring back new skills, techniques and models of delivery which could benefit patients and improve cancer services.
At the core of this work is patient experience, captured through our partnership with Bowel Cancer UKand the CEDAR NHS research group, who led a series of surveys, interviews and focus groups with people affected by bowel cancer. Over 70 patients and caregivers shared their experiences, and many took part in workshops side-by-side with healthcare professionals to inform the final recommendations.
Capsule Sponge Tests now part of the patient pathway in North Wales
Capsule sponge tests are now an established part of routine care in North Wales. This minimally invasive alternative to upper GI endoscopy is now a permanent part of the pathway for patients under surveillance for Barrett’s oesophagus, a pre-cancerous condition.
Capsule sponge tests offer a non-endoscopic way to sample cells from the oesophagus lining. The procedure requires no sedation or local anaesthetic and can be done in an outpatient setting in just 15–20 minutes, using fewer resources than a diagnostic upper GI endoscopy.
Over 12 months, nurse-led clinics at Wrexham Maelor Hospital delivered capsule sponge tests to more than 100 patients previously diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus. Patients with a positive result were referred for further investigation via an endoscopy, while patients with a negative result were returned to the surveillance list without the need for additional testing. Moving forward, routine surveillance for patients in North Wales will alternate between sponge tests and endoscopies at each interval.
The work in North Wales adds to the growing evidence base that capsule sponge tests are a safe, tolerable and effective option for surveillance of Barrett's oesophagus. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is the first in Wales to adopt this technology, following Scotland’s lead, where capsule sponge testing has been implemented across all mainland health boards for this use case.
Funding from Moondance has also supported Powys Teaching Health Board in introducing capsule sponge testing. Find out more here
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