Medical Negligence Lawyers Welcome New Diagnosis Guidelines

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced new guidelines on cancer diagnosis for GPs that it believes will save up to 5,000 lives each year.

Under the new guidelines, GPs would be able to order CT scans and internal examinations directly, rather than use a referral system, which NICE believes will speed up the diagnosis process for those suffering with cancer symptoms.

Specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, who have represented a number of patients who faced delays with diagnosis, have welcomed the new guidelines.

The committee has also produced information for patients to help them spot the most common signs of cancer so they can seek medical advice quickly. The new guidance encourages doctors to put "safety nets" in place to ensure difficult cases are not missed.

Professor Mark Baker of NICE told the BBC the new policy would save a "tangible number" of lives.

"This guideline specifically addresses that shortfall. We estimate it will [save] about 5,000 lives a year," he added.

If your have suffered due to a delayed cancer diagnosis or a cancer misdiagnosis, our medical negligence lawyers could help you claim compensation. Call 0808 163 4557 for a free initial consultation or see our Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims page for more details.