Responding to the announcement, Dr Katharine Halliday, President of the Royal College of Radiologists, said:
“For a patient with cancer, every day counts. Quicker diagnosis means less invasive treatments, better recovery and better outcomes.
“Expanding direct access to diagnostic scans across all GP practices is welcome, but GPs aren’t radiologists and as scans become ever more complex, it's essential that GPs are able to book the right scan, avoiding costly repeat scanning and devastating delays in treatment.
“We developed the iRefer Clinical Decision Making System to enable GPs to book the right scan first time, speeding up diagnosis and saving patient lives, as well as saving money and time. We wholly welcome today's announcement, the positive impact it will have for patients and any pressure reduction for our stretched radiology departments."