GPs report urgent cancer referrals being blocked through cost cutting measures

A survey of 507 GPs has revealed that half have said that they have been blocked from sending patients for urgent cancer scans and 46 per cent said that at least one referral had been downgraded or blocked in the last 12 months.

One GP reported having their attempts at referring a child for urgent blood cancer tests repeatedly turned down by hospital doctors.

Britain has one of the lowest cancer survival rates in Western Europe and this has long been blamed on symptoms being spotted late by GPs. However, family doctors say that they are being discouraged from referring patients because trust managers are intent on saving money.

Cancer Research UK’s Dr Richard Roope, said “GPs have been working hard to help diagnose cancers earlier, and it would be a shame if this is reversed due to a lack of resources.

“Investing in diagnostics will not only help cancer patients get an earlier diagnosis, but it could also reduce the demand on general practice, save money in the long run and improve patient outcomes.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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