Direct access to cancer diagnostics: the promise and perils of bypassing GPs

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, has confirmed the UK government is considering plans to allow patients to bypass their GP and directly access some diagnostic tests for suspected cancer.1The motivation behind this proposal seems to stem from the substantial delays some patients experience in obtaining GP appointments.2 If patients with potential cancer symptoms can bypass these waiting times, this could lead to earlier detection and treatment of cancers, thus potentially improving clinical outcomes. But the wait to see GPs—which could be reduced through greater investment in general practice—is only one factor in the diagnostic pathway. Even after referral, patients can wait for a long period before they receive a diagnosis and start their treatment.3Hence, while obtaining a GP appointment can be a factor in a delayed referral for specialist cancer assessment, it is not the only holdup in the diagnostic pathway. An effective solution…
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