Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1317. To ask the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure access to diagnostic testing brain natriuretic peptide blood testing and echocardiography at primary care level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42454/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Some €25m was allocated to the GP Access to Diagnostics Initiative in 2021. This initiative allows GPs to refer patients directly to private providers in order to access diagnostic radiology services of various modalities, in a community-based setting. The potential to further enhance this initiative to provide additional access for GPs to further diagnostics including NTproBNP blood testing and Echocardiogram has been identified, with work ongoing. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.