Southend Hospital is one of ten new “one-stop shops” to speed up cancer diagnosis which is being trialled across the country for the first time.

GPs can refer patients suffering from “vague” symptoms including unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain and fatigue to assessment centres, to undergo multiple tests for different cancers.

The initiative aims to ensure a quick diagnosis in those not showing “alarm” signs for a specific type of cancer, NHS England said.

Some patients will be able to receive a definitive diagnosis or be given the all-clear on the same day, while others may require further tests but should receive a final result within two weeks.

The scheme, co-ordinated by NHS England, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, is being piloted in ten areas.

Cally Palmer, national director for cancer at NHS England, said: “Early diagnosis is crucial to saving lives and providing peace of mind for patients, which is why we are driving forward plans to revolutionise our approach to cancer in this country.

“These new one-stop shops represent a real step change in the way people with unclear symptoms are identified, diagnosed and treated.”

Patients with unexplained weight loss, appetite loss, abdominal discomfort or pain, fatigue, sweating or who feel generally unwell could be referred to the service.

The symptoms, alone or combined, can indicate a number of diseases including cancer.

Southend has been earmarked to keep its specialist cancer centre under changes to healthcare in mid and south Essex.

Neil Rothnie, medical director at Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are pleased to be developing our Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Centre with the support of University College London Hospitals.

“The teams involved are now planning work with our GP colleagues to understand the best way to work with them for the benefit of patients with ‘vague’ symptoms.

“We aspire to develop a service that allows us to thoroughly assess these patients and quickly refer to appropriate specialists when needed, potentially allowing us to identify patients with cancer early, who may previously have only been diagnosed through attendance in A&E or after a routine referral to a specialist.”