dvar

similar article at www.bbc.co.uk/.../health-34421115

This is the logic of the madhouse, a patient with an easily curable condition is prevented from getting treatment. The condition gets worse they are eventually sent to hospital. Now the simple treatment that would have cost £1000 is now a series of operations and treatment that now cost £30,000 and the patient possibly their life. The old saying "a stitch in time" comes to mind.

Hello everyone,

Cancer Research UK have issued a Statement in response to the articles in both The Telegraph and Daily Mail articles which claim that GP practices are being offered thousands of pounds to refer fewer patients for specialist care, including those with suspected cancer.

Emma Greenwood, Cancer Research UK’s head of policy, said: “It’s not clear if this is a UK wide issue, but it’s very concerning. If GPs are restricted from sending patients for testing, particularly when cancer may be suspected, it’s unacceptable. We already know that we’re behind the curve in this area with UK GPs less likely to refer patients to specialists at their first consultation than their international counterparts. We can’t afford to lose any more ground. New NICE guidelines will shift the referral threshold, making it easier for GPs to send patients for specialist testing, and the health system must support GPs to do this. Diagnosing more patients at an earlier stage - when treatment is more likely to be successful - will only be possible if the health service increases its diagnostic capacity. By enabling earlier diagnosis of cancer through investment of time and money, ultimately the health service will avoid the cost of more complex treatments. The recently published Cancer Strategy for England called for increased investment in early diagnosis, and the Government has since announced they will increase spend in this area by £300m by 2020.  We welcome this commitment and urge Government and the NHS to act swiftly.”

Lucie