GP direct access to cancer diagnostic services

September 15, 2023

To enable GP teams to directly order fast-track cancer diagnostic tests, NHS England guidance details how teams can directly order CT scans, ultrasounds or brain MRIs for patients with concerning symptoms.

General practice teams are currently able to directly access tests for patients in several imaging modalities, including ultrasound, X-ray, computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, variability in testing capacity and access to a convenient mechanism to refer for an imaging test directly has limited GPs’ use of direct referral in some areas of the country.

NHS England is working to open community diagnostic centres seven days a week so that they provide up to 9 million tests a year by the end of 2024/25. By combining this increase in diagnostic capacity, with existing diagnostic resources, we will ensure GPs have increased and swifter access to more diagnostic imaging tests and patients will be receive diagnoses sooner.

NHS England recognise that systems are facing workforce challenges. NHS England is supporting systems to mitigate those challenges as far as possible by creating opportunities to optimise the existing workforce. NHS England are providing funding to ensure that each CDC has the right workforce in place and supporting systems to make the most of CDCs and diagnostic networks.

NHS England are also working to ensure that GPs have digital tools to conveniently refer to appropriate diagnostic tests at local testing centres, and are enhancing digital connectivity across the NHS to enable results to flow more seamlessly.

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