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05
Jun 2015
Patients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are less likely to be referred by GPs for cancer tests
A study has found that patients are less likely to be referred by their GP for tests to diagnose cancer if they live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and also found that, of six countries investigated, the UK has the second-worst cancer survival rates.
The study, which was conducted by the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP), looked at services across six countries, Canada, Australia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the UK.
The results were based on the survey responses of 2,795 GPs and found that, although 70% of English, Welsh and Northern Irish GPs had access to X-rays and ultrasounds, only one in five were able to directly access CT and MRI scans. GPs in other countries had double this level of access.
Responding to the study, Dr Richard Roope, the Royal College of GPs’ clinical lead for cancer, said “GPs see hundreds if not thousands of patients with potential cancer symptoms – but only an average of eight will be diagnosed with the disease. Data suggests that one-year survival rates are improving and three quarters of those found to have cancer are referred after one or two consultations.
“GPs across the UK are doing an excellent job considering the limited resources available to us. Of course there is always room for improvement, but funding for general practice is at an all time low, we have a severe shortage of doctors and access to scanners is very limited in UK primary care.”
A recent study has also found that for nine of the ten most common cancers, survival rates in the UK are lower than the European average, with much better prognoses in countries such as Finland, Norway and Sweden.
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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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