Patients’ first interaction with the health service is usually via their GP. In many cases it is preferable for a GP to refer a patient directly for a test or scan, before a hospital specialist consultation, to be better informed and make an effective judgement of their care needs.
Using this service, patients are referred directly for a scan (a.k.a. straight-to-test). In many cases, this is preferable for improved access and speed, and also the corresponding reources if frees for the hospital in consultations and scanning appointments. For each patient that accesses out-of-hospital facilities, the hospital will be able to offer that appointment to another patient, thereby enabling twice as many patients to be seen.
- timely access to diagnostic test
- use of out-of-hospital facilities frees hospital appointments
- improve patient outcomes