The Ardens Fast Track Safety Netting solutions enables tracking of 2WW referrals, urgent diagnostics, and symptom safety-netting. The tools consist of:

  • The Ardens Fast Track Safety Netting Template to help record data to track referrals, diagnostics and symptom safety netting.
  • Fast Track Safety Net QOF alert for practice staff to track those patients on the safety netting system. 
  • Searches and reports to monitor patients not seen in clinic in a specific time frame, diagnostics that have been tracked and have not had a result and to keep track of patients returning for symptom monitoring. 


Please see further information on the changes from the 2WW system to the 28 day Faster Diagnosis Standard in the following support article.


Referral Tracking

To track a 2WW referral, access the Run Template option within a consultation (alternatively click the Add > Data Using Template on the EMIS Ribbon option outside of a consultation). 


The Template Picker screen will display, search for the Ardens Fast Track Safety Netting Template using the search box provided or folder navigation pane. Select the template and click on OK.


This will launch the following template:



Select the Referral Tracking page on the left hand side to record a 2WW referral has been made. 


Depending on the referral to be tracked, click on either the Fast track cancer referral or Rapid access chest pain referral option to choose the type of referral. 



Please note - if you are an Ardens Pro customer and have made a referral using an Ardens 2WW referral form, there is no need to complete the 'Fast track cancer referral' option. The code will be applied when saving the referral form back to the patient record.


A further option to record generic/unknown cancer referral is available.

If you have given the patient any written information or advice, this can be recorded using the pre-populated text options within the Information on 2WW given to patient section. There is also a useful link to further patient information here:



Click on the Save Template option once the relevant information is complete, to save the information to the patient record (ensure you also save the consultation).


To record patient has been seen in clinic:

Once the clinic letter has been received at the practice, access the Ardens Fast Track Safety Netting Template and select the Seen in fast track clinic page.


Using the Seen in fast track clinic drop down field, select the relevant option e.g. Seen in fast track suspected breast cancer clinic, updating the date field were appropriate. 



Save template once complete. 


To identify the patient has not been seen in clinic:

When within a patient record, you will be alerted in the pink alert box if no clinic letter has been received for the patient (no recorded seen in clinic code) 3 weeks after the referral date. 


Hovering over the alert will give you further information of the referral date. 


Double click on the alert to launch a template to recoded the seen in details or if the patient has declined or rejected the referral if appropriate. 


Removing a Patient from the Fast Track System:

If patient has been referred inappropriately, the referral has been cancelled or declined, access the Seen in fast track clinic  page of the Ardens Fast Track Safety Netting Template and complete the relevant option in the Fast-track referral declined/rejected section.



Please note - you must tick the 'Referral cancelled by general practitioner' field AND either option 2a or 2b.


This will cancel any safety-netting alerts.


Fast Track Referral Chased

Ardens has provided practices with an option to record they are checking a status of an outstanding referral with either the patient or secondary care. The option can be found at the bottom of the Referrals Tracking page.



When using the Ardens Fast Track Safety Netting reports to monitor outstanding referrals, you will be able to see within the report which referrals have been chased.


Diagnostic Tracking

Access the Diagnostics Tracking  page of the Ardens Fast Track Safety Netting Template and complete the relevant option in the Complete Diagnostics Tracking section.


It's important you select the Urgent tick box in order to differentiate this is an urgent diagnostic referral when alerted. Once selected, click on the appropriate referral option depending on the investigation you want to send the patient for and select any advice given.



Save the template once complete. 


To identify a diagnostic result has not been recorded:

When within a patient record, you will be alerted in the pink alert box, if a direct access referral for diagnostic has been recorded in the last 90 days, but no results have been recorded. Hover over the alert for further information.



To remove a patient from the diagnostic component:

Access the Diagnostics Tracking  page of the Ardens Fast Track Safety Netting Template and complete the relevant option in the Complete Diagnostics Tracking section.



Please note - you must tick the 'High priority' field AND either option 2a or 2b.


This will cancel any diagnostic alerts.


Symptom Tracking

The symptom tracking system allows practices to monitor patients symptoms that may indicate cancer but they would like to further review the patient before making a 2WW referral.


Access the Ardens Fast Track Safety Netting Template and click on the Symptom Safety-Netting page. 


Click the Active monitoring of patient tick box and record when the patient is to be followed up using the date field provided. This will add a diary date to the patient record, which will trigger the Ardens Safety Netting system. Use the free-text field to indicate any details of the symptom you wish to track.


Save the template once all the relevant information has been completed (ensure you save the consultation). 


To identify a safety net symptom alert:

When within a patient record, you will be alerted in the pink alert box of when the patient is due their follow up to review their symptoms. Hover over the alert for further information of the due date. 



To clear the safety netting follow up:

Access the Ardens Cancer Safety Netting Template and click on the Symptom Safety-Netting page. 


Select the Discharged from follow-up tick box and add any additional text using the text box provided. 


Once the information has been saved, this will remove the alert.


Fast Track Safety Netting Searches

We have designed a suite of searches and reports to keep track of patients not seen in clinic 3 weeks after the 2WW referral date, results not received 3 weeks after a diagnostic referral has been recorded and patients due follow up for symptom monitoring. 

For further information on the searches, please see the following support article.


If you require any further assistance on the process above, please contact Ardens support on: support-emis@ardens.org.uk