NHS to speed up diagnosis and treatment of respiratory and heart conditions

NHS to speed up diagnosis and treatment of respiratory and heart conditions Hundreds of thousands of patients could benefit from a quicker diagnosis for a range of respiratory and heart conditions, through ambitious new NHS plans for fast-tracked tests and checks.

As part of measures announced by the NHS today to speed up detection of major health problems, GP practices will be able to directly order diagnostic checks to identify a wide range of conditions, including COPD, asthma, cardiovascular disease and heart failure.

Up to one million patients could benefit from the accelerated access, reducing the need for a specialist consultation and speeding up potentially life-saving treatment and medication for patients. NHS England

See also:

• NHS diagnostic plans will only increase GP workload without adequate funding BMA
• Improved access to diagnostics will undoubtedly support GPs in their referral decisions says College Chair Royal College of General Practitioners
• GPs given freedom to order heart checks direct BBC News
• Major change to GP appointments as up to a million patients will be offered fast-track heart and lung tests under plans to combat record NHS backlog The Daily Mail
• GPs to get power to fast-track patients for heart and lung checks The Guardian
• GPs to directly order tests for respiratory and CVD diagnostics Pulse