GPs handed cancer diagnostics guide to detect cases earlier
By Stephen Robinson, 13 April 2012
The DH has published guidance to help GPs decide which patients to send to direct access cancer scans with the aim of cutting delays in diagnosis.
The DH guidelines cover use of brain MRI (above), direct access non-obstetric ultrasound, chest X-ray and flexible sigmoidoscopy
The advice from the DH's Cancer Diagnostics Advisory Board sets out when GPs should consider referring patients with symptoms suggestive of cancer, where use of the two-week wait pathway is not appropriate.
In non-urgent cases where symptoms still need investigating, best practice referral guidelines explain how GPs should use local direct access diagnostics.
It covers use of direct access non-obstetric ultrasound, chest X-ray, flexible sigmoidoscopy and brain MRI.
The guidance forms part of the government's £450m programme to achieve earlier diagnosis, set out in the DH's cancer strategy.
The government's aim is to have less than 1% of patients waiting longer than six weeks for a diagnostic test.
The DH has estimated that 5,000 lives could be saved each year if England achieved cancer survival rates at the European average.
An RCGP audit published in November found GPs investigate and refer three-quarters of patients with cancer within two consultations.
However, a GP investigation in September revealed how PCT restrictions on access to diagnostic scans risk delaying diagnoses and 'deprofessionalising' GPs.
The RCGP warned in January that government plans to monitor GPs' use of diagnostic tests must set clear standards to avoid clinicans being wrongly accused of inappropriate referrals.
- Improve cancer test access to cut diagnosis delays, say experts
- Exclusive: Scan crisis threat to cancer diagnosis
- GPs face tougher scrutiny over diagnostic scans
- PCTs to ratchet up cuts to meet efficiency drive
- GP referrals fall by 250,000 as PCT pressure mounts
- Lansley blocks blanket bans on GP scan referrals
- Lansley to order PCTs not to blanket ban GP diagnostic scans
- Lansley backs commissioning to solve diagnostic scan access problems
- Exclusive: GPs and patients face postcode lottery accessing diagnostics
Send to a friend
Additional Information
1.png)
Latest jobs Jobs web feed
- Salaried GP The Higham Ferrers Surgery Salary negotiable , Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire
- Full Time Salaried GP Daneshouse Medical Centre Salary dependant on qualifications and experience, Burnley, Lancashire
- Salaried GP The Elms Medical Centre Negotiable depending upon experience, newly qualified starting at circa £72k pro-rata., North West England
- SALARIED GP (female) Mount Pleasant and Earlsheaton Medical Centres Dependent upon experience, Dewsbury / Batley, West Yorkshire
- Full Time GP Partner/ Salaried GP Newtown Medical Practice Negotiable, Mid Wales/Shropshire Border
- Salaried GP's Avicenna Medical Practice Negotiable and to include benefits, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Most read
- Hunt to reveal GP reforms and new inspection regime
- LMCs demand emergency vote after Hunt out-of-hours comments
- GP contract 'not to blame' for A&E pressure, NHS leaders say
- Hunt 'must recognise growing GP crisis', warns RCGP
- Integrated care pilot drives up dementia diagnosis
- GP-patient relationship faces 'unprecedented strain'
Most commented
This week's top offers
MIMS Drug Search
Possible searches include drugs (by brand, generic ingredient or drug class), diseases and more.
