GP Access to Community Diagnostics
GP Access to Community Diagnostics is an integral component of the Enhanced Community Care programme
GP access to Community X-Ray, CT, MRI and DEXA services is available to the full adult patient (16 years of age and over) population of Ireland via private providers (Affidea, Alliance Medical, Bon Secours (Tralee), Medica, Complete DXA Solutions, Beaumont Private and UPMC Whitfield)
GP access to Community Ultrasound is available to adult patients (16 years of age and over) with a medical card, GP visit card, or Health Amendment Act (HAA) card via private providers (Scan Clinic, Medica, Alliance Medical, Affidea, Bon Secours (Tralee), & Beaumont Private).
What scans can I refer for?
Please see below and GP Access to Community Diagnostics and GP Access to Community Ultrasound FAQs for a list of all scans available on the scheme. Not all scans are covered on this scheme, so please read below to ensure the exam is covered, otherwise, you should refer via the traditional channels.
MRI
- MRI Brain, MRI Thoracic Spine to include thoracolumbar, MRI IAMS, MRI Hip, MRI Brain & IAM’s, MRI Knee, MRI Pituitary Contrast, MRI Shoulder, MRI Lumbar Spine, MRI Bony Pelvis, MRI Lumbosacral Spine, MRI Pelvis and Hips, MRI SIJ’s, MRI Cervical Spine to include cervicothoracic
CT
- CT Brain, CT Neck, CT Sinus, CT Neck & Thorax, CT KUB/Renal, CT Brain & Sinus, CT Thorax, CT Lumbar Spine, CT Abdomen & Pelvis, CT Cervical Spine, CT Abdomen (Liver, Pancreas), CT Thorax HRCT, CT Thorax & Abdomen
DXA
X-Ray
- X-Ray Ankle, X-Ray IOFB, X-Ray Wrist, X-Ray AC joint, X-Ray Calcaneum, X-Ray Knee, X-Ray Abdomen, X-Ray Toes, X-Ray Cervical Spine, X-Ray KUB, X-Ray Clavicle, X-Ray Fingers, X-Ray Chest/lateral, X-Ray Lumbar Spine, X-Ray Patella, X-Ray Foot, X-Ray Elbow, X-Ray Pelvis, X-Ray Radius and Ulna, X-Ray Hand, X-Ray Facial Bones, X-Ray Pelvis/Hips, X-Ray Scaphoid, X-Ray Hip, X-Ray Femur, X-Ray Shoulder, X-Ray Sinus, X-Ray Thoracic Spine, X-Ray Sternum, X-Ray SIJ, X-Ray Soft Tissue Neck, X-Ray Thumb, X-Ray Humerus, X-Ray Tib/Fib
Ultrasound
- US Neck/Thyroid, US Abdomen, US Abdo renal, US Renal, US Pelvis, US TV, US Pelvis and TV, US Abdo Pelvis, US Testes, US Soft Tissue, US Groin
Are clinical guidelines available to support my decision when referring a patient?
The ICGP have developed a Quick Reference Guide for GPs in practice that focuses on the use of various imaging modalities for various clinical issues. QRGs offer GPs a trusted information source that can aid delivery of timely, evidence-based care to patients. The new QRG (based on the iRefer guidelines) is available to ICGP members via the ICGP website and aims to assist GPs in the rationalisation of imaging studies for the various clinical issues encountered regularly in daytime general practice.
How to access the services
Before referring a patient for a scan, you must:
- Assess if the patient requires a scan
- Check if this service covers the patient and scan type
- Inform the patient of the private providers available
- Refer the patient via the appropriate channel (via this service or hospital/privately if not covered)
Where to refer
The Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) Matrices (see related files below) and National Matrix provide information on locations to refer your patients.
Note: You will also find information on local initiatives in grey. You should contact the local area if you require information regarding these local initiatives to confirm specific referral guidelines.
How to refer
You can refer to all private providers by submitting an e-referral using the General Referral Form on Healthlink. Healthlink is accessed via the Healthlink web portal or your accredited practice management software.
What information do I need to include on the referral?
Please complete all the required fields when filling out the General Referral Form via Healthlink (see below).
Please note the new code: ‘GP Access to Community Diagnostics’, which is to be used for referrals for X-ray, CT, MRI and DXA or ‘GP Access to Community US’ if referring for US. Please ensure you provide Medical/GP visit/HAA card number if referring for US.
You must also include the following information specified below in the free text box on the General Referral Form:
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#
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Information Required in General Referral Free Text Box
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Example
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1
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Code: ‘GP Access to Community Diagnostics’
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GP Access to Community Diagnostics
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2
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CHO
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CHO 1
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3
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County
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Cavan
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4
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Medical card or GP visit card number, only for GP Access to Community US scheme (8 characters)
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A1B23456C
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5
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Modality
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CT
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6
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Part of the body to be scanned (depending on the type of scan being requested)
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Sinuses
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7
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Urgent or Routine
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Routine
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8
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Patient mobile number (if not provided already)
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086-123-4567
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9
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Relevant clinical information, including previous imaging and where it was done
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MRI Brain at St James’ Hospital
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All the above information must be specified correctly on the referral, particularly the valid medical card or GP visit card number, where applicable.
You can find answers to questions about the rollout and how to refer your patient for X-ray, CT, MRI and DEXA in GP Access to Community Diagnostics and GP Access to Community Ultrasound FAQs.
For information on how the HSE processes personal information, patients can view the HSE privacy notice available at hse-privacynotice-service-users.pdf. This can be found online on the HSE GDPR webpage - GDPR Information - HSE.ie.
GP Access to Community Diagnostics has provided GPs access to approximately 138k radiology scans in 2021 and approximately 253k in 2022
This rollout supports the long-term objective of expanding Primary Care services aligned to the following:
These reports highlight the crucial role played by GPs in the Enhanced Community Care programme and in shifting care provision from acute to community settings.
