A major update was announced today, by Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, at the Royal College of GPs’ Conference in Liverpool, to let women with worrying lumps in their breasts, be directly referred to a breast diagnostic clinic, without having to go through their GP.
The scheme will be piloted in Somerset by NHS Somerset and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. Women will be able to check their symptoms and where appropriate, be referred directly for an appointment with their local breast diagnostic clinic at Musgrove Park or Yeovil District Hospital without having to make an appointment with their GP.
Carly Jackson, Commissioning Manager, Planned Care and Cancer, NHS Somerset says;
“We know what a worrying time it can be for women if they discover symptoms such as lumps in their breast and that they want to be seen as quickly as possible.
“When the pilot goes live women in Somerset over 30, who have a red flag symptom, will be able to contact 111 online or use the NHS app, and if they meet the criteria, they may be referred directly to their local breast diagnostic clinic, without having to first make an appointment with their GP.”
The service will then be evaluated, before a nationwide rollout.
