Project Name: University Hospitals Sussex Pathway Mapping and Service Transformation

Project Summary: 

The CWP aims to ensure equitable access to treatment for metastatic Breast Cancer (mBC) patients in Sussex. In collaboration with Novartis, the project aims to map and redesign the CW Partner’s Metastatic Breast Cancer (the “Service”) Pathway and support the implementation of improvement measures. A 12-month Band 8a Transformation Lead will be recruited by the trust to implement the changes identified within a pathway mapping exercise. 

Through pathway mapping, the CWP aims to first:

  • Understand the demand and available capacity for breast cancer (BC) across Sussex
  • Seek out pinch points in the mBC pathway as well as areas of best practice
  • Identify the opportunities to improve mBC efficiency and service effectiveness for the benefit of patient care.
  • Identify opportunities to standardise the mBC patient pathway across the Sussex footprint
  • Share projects with Cancer Alliance
  • Present service transformation outputs to National Congresses (BOPA, UKONS)

The Transformation Lead will implement the opportunities and changes identified in the mapping phase, with the aim of streamlining patient progression to start oral systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT), reducing delays for breast cancer patients awaiting multidisciplinary team (MDT) review, and improving waiting times between SACT treatment cycles. It also aims to decrease calls to the SACT helpline, minimise clinic overbooking, and enhance NHS staff satisfaction to lower burnout risk. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to future-proof the service by optimising the metastatic breast cancer pathway for sustained improvements.

The project will run for 21 months with 12 months transformational project work being undertaken

Expected Benefits: 

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS FOR PATIENTS

  • Increased access to equitable, consistent and standardised care.
  • Improve patients' outcomes by more efficient service and less delay to treatment cycles
  • Improved patient satisfaction
  • Reduced waiting time (to access overbooked clinics).
  • Improved Quality of Life
  • Reducing clinic overbooking

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS FOR THE ORGANISATION(S)

  • Increasing National Health Service (NHS) employee satisfaction, reducing the risk of NHS workforce burnout
  • Improved clinician experiences.
  • Service efficiencies for the breast cancer SACT service
  • CWP would highlight the trust as an exemplar

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS FOR NOVARTIS

  • Better understanding of overall HCP and patient need
  • Optimal use of medicines in line with local/national guidance (including Novartis medicines) in appropriate patients.
  • Ethical, professional, and transparent relationship between Novartis and the Healthcare Organisation

Start Date & Duration: October 2025 for 21 months

FA-11559384 | November 2025