Hello Esther and thanks for your post,

I am sorry to hear about your husbands anxious wait for tests in the UK and I understand your need to get on with the investigations.

It may be quite complicated having tests done abroad and then moving back to this country. Instead of speeding things up it may end up making further delays.

Any patient with potential cancer is discussed in an MDT (Multi Disciplinary Team) meeting. At this meeting doctors meet to discuss all the tests done to help diagnose a patient. It can be sometimes more complicated if tests are done abroad, and they then may want to request more tests if it is going to help in their diagnosis.

If you are thinking of going down the private route would it not be better to have the tests done privately in this country and then switching to the NHS. A lot of NHS hospitals have a private practice as well as an NHS practice. This may help speed things up a bit.

The  NHS have produced some information about going privately and switching to the NHS which you can see here.

Some hospitals take precautions in seeing patients who have been abroad and may require some form of isolation if your husband decides to go to Spain.

I can understand that this is frustrating to hear. Your husband may find it helpful to talk through these points with his GP to see what they suggest. Any referrals both NHS or private would have to come through the GP.

If you feel that it would be helpful to chat this through with one  of the nurses then do give us a ring. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Best Wishes,

Catherine