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Previous reliance on manual booking systems and paper diaries saw the Health Department waste more than £200,000 on chemotherapy drugs that went unused, new data has revealed.
The cost of wasted chemotherapy drugs between 2021 and 2023 reached a total of £212,480, according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Law.
Pictured: Value of chemotherapy wastage each year, from 2021 to October 2024.
The old system – which has now been upgraded – meant that if a patient couldn’t make it to their chemotherapy appointment, the drugs that had already been prepared often went unused and were discarded.
However, a new system called BookWise was introduced and is now said to have saved the department tens of thousands.
The system now allows the Oncology team to notify the pharmacy quickly if treatment is cancelled or changed to prevent drugs from being prepared in advance and wasted.
Today, HCS Oncology Department welcomed the Lieutenant-Governor, Dr Kyd & Minister for Health & Social Services to witness the successful implementation of specialised scheduling system (Bookwise) and Somerset Cancer Registry & to speak to patients. #digitalhealth pic.twitter.com/M8dC981PZS
— Jersey Gov Health & Community Services (HCS) (@GovJsyHCS) October 11, 2024
In a statement about its launch, the Health Department said that the digital system had improved the overall process by making it more efficient and patient-centred.
They explained it allows specialists to access up-to-date patient records and communicate better about treatment plans to reduce delays and improve coordination.
The department also said the new system provides opportunities for research and analysis.
Pictured: The Oncology Unit.
By digitising cancer databases, the Oncology team can now track cancer trends over time and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and prevention programmes.
Public Health officials can also use the data to adapt strategies and improve cancer care.
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