Post FDS Navigator | Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Crewe

The Post Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) Navigator is a key member of the Colorectal Team within the Surgery & Cancer Division. This role supports the coordination and progression of both suspected cancer and benign colorectal patient pathways at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Working under the supervision of the Colorectal Triage Nurses, the post holder ensures smooth pathway management by coordinating diagnostic tests, tracking referrals, liaising with clinical and administrative teams, and maintaining timely communication with patients, carers, and GP practices. The role requires proficiency across multiple IT systems and the ability to manage a delegated workload autonomously while contributing to pathway performance targets, patient experience, and early cancer diagnosis.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and track rapid access referrals against colorectal cancer and benign pathways.
• Book and organise diagnostic investigations in line with optimal colorectal pathways.
• Serve as a single point of contact for patients, carers, and clinical teams.
• Provide non-clinical information, triage queries, and escalated concerns appropriately.
• Maintain accurate pathway data on systems such as Somerset Cancer Registry.
• Liaise with Radiology, Endoscopy, MDT coordinators, GP practices, and other clinical services.
• Support data collection, audits, and continuous service improvement.
• Assist pre‑operative assessment processes for patients requiring GA for diagnostic procedures.
• Ensure safe, high‑quality patient experience across the full pathway.
• Ensuring suspected cancer and benign colorectal referrals are processed promptly.
• Coordinating diagnostic tests and procedures across services such as Radiology, Endoscopy, and Outpatients.
• Providing patients with essential information and coordinating test preparation.
• Using multiple IT systems to track, monitor, and progress patients efficiently.
• Supporting high‑quality, timely, safe pathways to improve early diagnosis and patient experience.

About Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) provides good quality, safe and effective healthcare to the people of Cheshire and beyond. The Trust, which manages Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford, was established as an NHS Trust in April 1991 and became a Foundation Trust in April 2008. We employ almost 5,000 members of staff, provide around 540 hospital beds, with a range of services including accident and emergency, maternity, outpatients, therapies, and children's health. The Trust is also part of Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP), a unique local health partnership that provides a range of community services for people across South Cheshire and Vale Royal. During the Coronavirus pandemic, the Trust was recognised nationally for its ‘Be Safe Be EquiPPEd’ campaign, which aimed to make the Trust as safe as possible for staff and patients, through supporting the correct use of PPE. The results in the 2020 national NHS Staff Survey showed improvements in all elements of the safety culture theme, with 92% of respondents feeling their role made a difference to our patients. We were also recognised nationally for our workforce health and wellbeing initiatives. At Mid Cheshire, we value our staff and appreciate that in order to give our patients the best quality, compassionate care, we also need to look after our colleagues.