Dr. Pádraig McGarry:

There has not been any specific discussion on extending access to diagnostic services to GPs but it is a no-brainer that it should happen because it would take out a layer of referrals. One gets to a stage in general practice where one can no longer progress a patient's investigations beyond one's own ability or the availability of services. Hence, one gets into this referral system that goes onad infinitum. Clearly, it is a no-brainer that if GPs can access diagnostic services locally or in a timely manner, we can remove half of the referrals in the system. Small pilot studies have been done in various places, including in Waterford, where a study was done in the context of heart failure clinics and so on but there have not been specific discussions on diagnostics. It is something that should happen but access, availability and appropriate standards are essential.