Research from the Government’s Behavioural Insights Team, who tested the theory by sending letters to GPs in Manchester, revealed that cancer referral could jump by a fifth. The team focused on 244 surgeries with a record of below-average cancer test referral rates. Referral rates rose by 10% on average among the ­practices with the lowest number of patients being sent for tests. Last year, an official report – produced by former National Cancer Director Sir Mike Richards – said GPs sending too few patients for cancer tests was one explanation for late cancer diagnosis rates in the UK. OK, but before cancer referral, why can’t we do some basic diagnostic tests in the community to exclude other common illnesses?

Source: Daily Mirror March 31, 2019 20:35 UTC