NHS Confederation responds to announcement that GPs will get direct access to testing for cancer diagnosis

Responding to the news that the NHS will give general practice teams direct access to tests to help speed up cancer diagnosis for patients, Ruth Rankine director of  primary care at the NHS Confederation, said:

“In the face of huge and sustained pressure across the NHS including in primary care where 29 million appointments were delivered in September alone, general practice staff will welcome the news that the government has listened to their concerns.

“Accessing these vital diagnostic scans as quickly as possible without having to refer on to secondary care will help primary care practitioners ensure that they can continue to play their crucial part in meeting the needs of their patients and local communities.”