Direct access chest x-ray
Category: Diagnosis and Initial Needs
The problem identified
Within Eastern Cheshire there is a currently a direct access chest x-ray service, for patients referred by their GP. Research has shown that patients with lung cancer often present to their GPs late, in order to address this, theTrust is looking at widening the direct access service to include referrals from community pharmacists.
The intervention made to change the problem
Patients presenting to a pharmacy requesting medication for lung problems who fulfil specific criteria will be assessed by the registered pharmacist and offered referral directly for a chest x-ray without recourse to their GP.
How it changed my practice
Pharmacists complete the card and the patient self presents with the card to the radiology department at Macclesfield DGH. The chest x-ray report will be sent to the lung cancer nurses for processing.
Patient will be triaged depending on result of CXR and symptoms documented on pharmacy card into RALC.
If there is no suspicion of cancer a letter will be sent to the GP with recommendations for next steps and copied to referring pharmacist.