FIRST SEEN BY SPECIALIST DATE (CANCER)

This is the date that the patient is first seen by the appropriate specialist for cancer care within a CANCER CARE SPELL. This is the person or persons who are most able to progress the diagnosis of the primary tumour. The date will be one of the following, whichever is the earlier SERVICE related to the CANCER CARE SPELL where the PATIENT saw an appropriate specialist for cancer care:

- first out-patient appointment with appropriate cancer specialist; this is the FIRST ATTENDANCE of the OUT-PATIENT ATTENDANCE CONSULTANT.
- first diagnostic procedure if this precedes the first out-patient appointment; this is the first CLINICAL INTERVENTION DATE of the IMAGING OR RADIODIAGNOSTIC EVENT or the CLINICAL INTERVENTION.
- first seen as an emergency; this is the START DATE of the HOSPITAL PROVIDER SPELL or the ARRIVAL DATE of the ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY ATTENDANCE.
- first seen following recall by screening unit; this is the SCREENING TEST DATE of the SCREENING TEST.

References: The NHS National Cancer Waiting Times, DH, DSCN 22/2002. 

This attribute is also known by these names:

Context Alias
plural FIRST SEEN BY SPECIALIST DATES (CANCER)