DES

The 2025-26 DES specification shows how practices can participate in the DES, as well as which areas are a focus. Information on improving health outcomes can be found on page 43, as well as a summarized CAN-04 metric on page 111 and 115.

Key DES deliverables for cancer are: 

CAN04: The proportion of patients who have had a lower gastrointestinal urgent suspected cancer referral in the reporting year where at least one urgent suspected cancer referral was accompanied by a Faecal Immunochemical Test result, with the result recorded in the 21 days leading up to the referral.

DES 8.3: A PCN must seek to improve health outcomes for its population using a data-driven approach and population health management techniques in line with guidance and the CORE20PLUS5 approach. Practice data can be viewed from Cancer Primary Care Dashboard.

• Improving health outcomes includes: 
  • Reviewing cancer referral practice to improve early diagnosis; and
  • Improving screening uptake, inclusive of breast, bowel, and cervical cancer
• DES 8.6.7: A PCN’s Core Network Practices must actively communicate availability of these enhanced access appointments to their patients, including informing patients how they can be accessed, what and when specific services are available (for example vaccinations and immunisations, provision of personally administered items, screening, health checks, PCN services etc) and what and when different members of the MDT are available, through promotion and publication through multiple routes. This may include the NHS website (nhs.uk), the practice leaflet, the practice website, on a waiting room poster, by writing to patients and active offers by staff booking appointments.