GPs given freedom to order heart checks direct

GP practices in England will be able to order a host of checks directly to help speed up the diagnosis of a range of heart and respiratory conditions.

Traditionally GPs refer to specialists when conditions like heart failure and lung problems are suspected.

But the ability to direct refer, which was rolled out for cancer last year, is now being extended.

GPs welcomed the move, but questioned whether there was sufficient testing capacity to cope.

Royal College of GPs chair Prof Kamila Hawthorne said: "Any initiative to accelerate the process by which patients can be diagnosed and begin to receive any necessary treatment should be seen as positive."

She said GPs had "long been calling" for better access to diagnostic tests.

But she added: "For this initiative to be successful, it is vital that diagnostic capacity - both in terms of testing and people to conduct and interpret tests - is sufficient."

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Source: BBC News, 3 August 2023