An investigation by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body has found that advice and guidance services for GPs in England are creating a risk of missed or delayed cancer diagnoses.
Key facts
- An investigation found cancer diagnoses have been missed or delayed in England.
- The problem is linked to advice and guidance (A+G) services used by GPs.
- A+G services are designed for GPs to seek specialist advice before referring patients to hospital.
- The findings come from the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB).
Cancer diagnoses have been missed or delayed because of a system designed for GPs to seek specialist advice before referring patients to hospital, according to an investigation reported by the Guardian.
The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) identified patient risks linked to how advice and guidance (A+G) services have been implemented across England.
Advice and guidance services are intended to allow GPs to consult specialists before making a formal referral to hospital. The aim of such systems is to help doctors decide on the most appropriate course of action for a patient without necessarily sending them straight to secondary care.
However, the HSSIB investigation found that the way these services have been rolled out across England is creating a risk of missed or late detection of illness, according to the Guardian’s report.
The investigation focused on how the A+G approach operates in practice and the safety concerns arising from its implementation, rather than on the underlying concept of specialist consultation itself.
Why it matters
Early detection of cancer is widely regarded as critical to successful treatment, so any system that delays diagnosis can have serious consequences for patients. The findings raise questions about how a process intended to streamline care may unintentionally put some patients at risk.
Frequently asked questions
What is the advice and guidance (A+G) service?
According to the Guardian, it is a system designed for GPs to seek specialist advice before referring patients to hospital.
Who carried out the investigation?
The investigation was conducted by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB).
What did the investigation find?
It found that advice and guidance services, as implemented across England, are creating a risk of missed or late detection of illness, including missed or delayed cancer diagnoses.