GP Direct Access - AQP

Overview

Many GPs across the UK already refer patients directly to us as part of previously negotiated PCT contracts, however with the introduction of AQP through Choose and Book, we are now able to accept even more referrals directly from GPs offering patients choice and speed of access at the right time in the right location.  We work with PCTs and GP consortia to develop diagnostic listings on the Directory of Services (DoS). We can provide a variety of diagnostic imaging solutions including MRI, CT, Ultrasound and DEXA.  We have the ability to offer appointments at times that suit your patients in convenient central locations including a number of NHS and Private hospitals. AQP introduces a new way of thinking, allowing you as the GP to direct patients onto their required pathway without having to refer into secondary care, resulting in a faster service for you and your patients. Furthermore, this alleviates the pressure on secondary care so they can treat patients who require hospitalisation.

How to Refer

The referral process is simple.  Alliance Medical will remove the administrative burden that is normally involved in referral processes.  We will contact your patient by phone once you have selected us on choose and book; we’ll then check the patient’s safety, provide all necessary pre-scan information, carry out the diagnostic scan and return to you a clinical report for you to discuss with the patient.

What can I refer for?

We are able to scan a wide variety of clinical applications such as Musculo-skeletal, Neurology, ENT, MR Angiography and MRI venography, Oncology and Body MRI. More complex scans include:

• Head scans for headaches, epilepsy, hearing loss and tinnitus, suspected tumours - reassurance etc
• Abdomen scans for differentiation of adenomas from metastasis, MRCPs, abnormalities noted on other imaging studies which require additional clarification
• Pelvis scans for both: male - prostate and testicular masses etc and female – various gynaecological scans

Somerset Alliance MRI Unit

Our newest addition to the AQP Choose and Book Diagnostic Imaging Pathway is Somerset Alliance MRI Unit.  The Somerset Alliance MRI Unit is now able to deliver services under the “Any Qualified Provider” (AQP) contract for North Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire PCTs. General Practitioners within these three Primary Care Trusts can now locate Alliance Medical’s dedicated MRI unit in Bridgwater on the Directory of Service when referring a patient for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

If your patient requires an MRI scan, please select the “Alliance Medical MRI Service – Somerset NT964” and let us do the work in providing a high quality, patient focussed service.