Sir, You report (June 18 and 20) the case of Ms Rachel King, who was advised that she might have to wait 80 weeks for a routine brain scan or pay £983 for treatment within two weeks. I am medical director of a company that provides MRI scans for self-pay patients.
There are enough current NHS hospital resources to provide emergency care, cancer care and complex specialist care. There are no separate resources for more routine care, creating the kind of delay that patients like Ms King experience. The Government offers “patient choice” while funding only one option for treatment, namely the original, under-resourced and inefficient services.
All the Government has to do is fund routine healthcare at tariff prices and allow local clinicians to find local solutions to the healthcare delivery problems they face. For routine care only, patients should expect to pay something towards their care but in return receive a proper service. This would enable current NHS facilities to do properly what they do best, which is to provide emergency, urgent and specialist care, care which should continue free at the point of access. Patients would benefit.
For £250, Ms King could receive her scan from our service. It would be organised at a time to suit her and be reported by a UK-registered, NHS consultant radiologist with appropriate specialist experience. Our report would be communicated to her specialist the next day.
DAVID R. SANDEMAN
(Consultant neurosurgeon)
info@southwestimaging.co.uk
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From the President of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland
Sir, The case of Ms King comes at a time when the Government is preparing to outsource two million diagnostic procedures over the next five years to the private sector at a cost of £1 billion. You accurately report that many radiological departments have spare capacity due to lack of resources to man their scanners. We are desperately short of qualified radiographers and, to a lesser extent, radiologists.
Surely the money would be better spent increasing capacity in the NHS, which would produce a sustained improvement in the overall care of our patients. Outsourcing work to the private sector, where standards are not regulated, communication difficult and staff in short supply, is not the answer.
ROBERT LANE
rhslane@aol.com
From Mr James Mills
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Sir, Here’s a wheeze. Instead of King’s College Hospital’s “self-pay” scan at £983, fly to Singapore (£400), stay in a splendid hotel for three or four nights (£150), have a walk-in (almost) MRI scan at a gleaming private hospital (£300), see an excellent dentist (£20) and get a new pair of designer specs (£50).
You’ll be back with a tan, a few new friends and some wonderful meals under your belt, to say nothing of a high-quality scan.
JAMES MILLS
Clapham, London