Up to one million people could benefit from new plans to streamline the diagnosis for a range of respiratory and heart conditions, NHS England has announced.
The new measures mean GP practices will be able to directly order diagnostic tests for conditions such as COPD, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and heart failure.
The move is expected to reduce the need for a consultation, which, not only expedites potentially life-saving treatment for patients, but it also frees up consultants’ time so they can work more effectively through the backlog.
The scheme has already helped 80,000 patients, who do not meet the guidelines for an urgent cancer referral, access quicker diagnostic support.
“We’ve already seen the benefits this can bring when it comes to cancer and, by expanding these initiatives to other conditions, we can ease some of the pressures that build up on the NHS in the winter months,” said health minister, Will Quince.
NHS England’s medical director for transformation and secondary care, Dr Vin Diwakar, said that patients will benefit from convenient triaging near their homes thanks to the health service capitalising on the extra capacity offered by community diagnostic centres.
He said: “NHS staff are already making significant progress in reducing the covid backlogs, and this efficient way of testing, can potentially help us to reduce that even further.”
Health leaders are also anticipating the move will ease pressures for this coming winter.
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