NHS gives GP teams direct access to tests to speed up cancer diagnosis

NHS gives GP teams direct access to tests to speed up cancer diagnosis Tens of thousands of cancers could be detected sooner each year thanks to a national roll out of fast-track testing, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard will announce today.

NHS England is expanding direct access to diagnostic scans across all GP practices, helping cut waiting times and speeding up a cancer diagnosis or all-clear for patients.

From this month, every GP team will start to be able to directly order CT scans, ultrasounds or brain MRIs for patients with concerning symptoms, but who fall outside the NICE guideline threshold for an urgent suspected cancer referral. NHS England 

See also:

• Direct access to diagnostics will reassure patients - but GP workforce must be increased and given appropriate training and support Royal College of General Practitioners
• All GPs to receive direct access to cancer tests BBC News
• GPs will fast-track patient scans to speed up cancer diagnoses The Daily Telegraph
• NHS to roll out direct access to cancer tests for all GP practices GPonline
• GPs in England to send suspected cancer patients directly for tests The Guardian