Cancer patients across Scotland are set to receive expanded support during treatment as a successful healthcare initiative is rolled out nationwide.
The Single Point of Contact programme, which provides patients with a dedicated support contact throughout their care, will now be expanded following the success of pilot projects across the country.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that an additional £1 million a year will be invested to extend the programme and reach more people living with cancer.
The initiative was tested through 12 pilot projects which received more than £5 million in funding between 2022 and March 2025.
An evaluation by Healthcare Improvement Scotland found that over a 12 month period the services recorded more than 30,000 interactions with people affected by cancer.
The Single Point of Contact service gives patients a consistent contact within their care team who can help explain appointments, test results and treatment options while guiding patients towards clinical and non clinical support.
The aim is to make it easier for patients and families to navigate what can often be a complex and stressful treatment journey.
Feedback from patients involved in the pilot projects highlighted reduced anxiety around appointments, faster access to blood test results and greater opportunities to ask questions about their care.
Staff involved in delivering the programme also reported improvements in their own wellbeing alongside more time to focus on specialist clinical work.
Health Secretary Neil Gray announced the national expansion of the programme during a visit to Forth Valley Royal Hospital where the service has been operating since early 2023.
“I am very pleased to roll out this invaluable initiative which gives people with cancer a consistent contact throughout their treatment, enabling specialist staff to focus on complex clinical care.
“The Single Point of Contact service ensures cancer patients know exactly who they can turn to when they need advice about their diagnosis or care.
“The expansion of this programme means more people can benefit from this type of one to one support which is truly making a difference.”
Healthcare leaders say the approach is already transforming how patients receive follow up care.
Professor Karen Adamson, Deputy Medical Director at NHS Forth Valley, said digital follow up services linked to the programme have also improved efficiency.
“Digital follow up for patients with prostate cancer is transforming how we support people after diagnosis.
“It offers a convenient and efficient way for patients to receive their results and ongoing follow up, without the need for unnecessary hospital visits.
“In 2024 to 2025, 391 patients received their results and follow up digitally, releasing the equivalent of 26 Clinical Nurse Specialist clinics so more patients can be seen and supported.
“Feedback shows patients value the service, describing it as quick, convenient and reassuring.”
The Single Point of Contact model was first introduced as part of the national cancer recovery and redesign plan in 2020 and has since been incorporated into Scotland’s Cancer Strategy covering the period from 2023 to 2033.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland estimates that SPOC navigators saved more than 3,970 hours of specialist clinical nurse time over a year, allowing medical teams to focus more closely on complex patient care.
