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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Denis Campbell Health policy editor

Pharmacists to assess cancer symptoms and refer patients to specialists

Pharmacy
The scheme will operate initially as a pilot in an undisclosed number of areas of England. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA

People with potential signs of cancer will be able to get assessed and referred for a hospital checkup in high street pharmacies under new NHS plans to speed up diagnosis of the disease.

The scheme will mean that those in England with lumps, a cough, bleeding or other cancer symptoms will no longer need to see a GP before being referred to a specialist. It will take some of the workload off hard-pressed family doctors and give patients another option.

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