We visited Telford's new £300k cancer clinic which aims to save the NHS £1 billion and 1m appointments a year

The three new rooms means the TRIOMIC study, designed to reduce the amount of time patients are waiting and worrying about a colorectal cancer diagnosis, can get underway.

The study involves a new test which aims to drastically reduce the number of patients who require an invasive colonoscopy.

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Speaking to the Shropshire Star at the launch, Jon Lacy-Colson, a consultant colorectal surgeon and chief investigator for the trial, said: “We're here today to celebrate two things.

“One is the opening of the three new clinic rooms that gives us the capacity, for the first time ever, to see all of the patients who are referred on the colorectal cancer urgent suspected pathway.

“But what we're also doing is the TRIOMIC trial, which is a scientific study into a new diagnostic device for colorectal cancer.

“This is a new test where we can take a sample in any outpatient clinic of rectum mucus from patients who might have bowel cancer.

“That then goes off to the lab, and we can detect those abnormal cancer cells.

“So that might mean in the future, that most people might not have to have a colonoscopy, which would save the NHS up to £1 billion a year and could save us a million outpatient clinic appointments per year.

“But it also means that patients can get the answer much quicker - whether or not they need to have a colonoscopy.

“And it also means that we can collect, we can diagnose colorectal cancer at a much earlier stage, which has the potential to save many hundreds and thousands of lives worldwide every year.”

This is the first trial of its kind in the UK. About 6,000 symptomatic patients on the colorectal urgent suspected cancer pathway at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) will be recruited for the year-long study.

Mr Lacy-Colson added: “In Shropshire, we're developing the new test to prove that it works.

“We're developing the algorithm, which takes place in the lab.

“Once that algorithm has been developed, then we'll do a multi-centre study across the UK to prove the sensitivity and the specificity, to evaluate the performance of the test.

“After that, we would be applying for NICE approval so that it can become the new investigation for patients on this pathway across the UK.

“Hopefully after that, it will go worldwide and transform colorectal cancer diagnostic pathways across the world.”

Hugo Lywood, the chief executive and founder of Origin Sciences, which provided funding for the staff and capital costs to allow development of the new pathway, demonstrated how the new test is carried out.

It uses a device called the Oricol to collect mucus samples and is quick and pain-free.

It can also be carried out at any health facility including community diagnostic centres and conducted by any junior healthcare professional, Mr Lywood added.

The samples will then be tested at laboratories for abnormal cells from cancer and "significant" polyps.

If the new technology being developed is successful, then eight out of 10 patients will know that they haven’t got cancer within five days after the test rather than having a 45-minute colonoscopy requiring full bowel preparation and a separate visit to hospital.

Mr Lywood said it felt “fabulous” to be standing inside one of the new clinic rooms, ready to launch the study.

“It's a huge amount of effort and hard work for about 40 or 50 people from Origin and from the NHS.

“But the end goal, to save those million outpatients a year, is extremely valuable to us and the NHS. It’s very exciting.”

SaTH chief executive Jo Williams added: “I am really proud to be here today, because this will have a huge impact for patients as the team have already shared.

“Saying to people that they're having a colonoscopy and having bowel prep, it's something that people worry about, and at times people don't turn up for their appointments.

“This is so patient-centered, it's fantastic.

“A huge thank you to Origin and the team, because the NHS relies on partnership, and we couldn't have done this without their support.”

Find out more information about Hollinswood House and the services available as well as Origin Sciences and the Oricol via the official pages.