Hi JRT - How long do you have to wait for the NHS  scan?

My understanding is that you can have a private scan and then go back to the NHS for treatment - BUT you would need to contact the private company and see if you need a GP Referral letter. If you are on the urgent list i'm assuming and hoping you wont wait  too long - again discuss this with your GP, they will know the system better.

This is a totally different scenario - but in Jan 2020 - an X-Ray showed a "suspicious" 1cm area in my mums right lung. In such cases the NHS  use a "watch and wait" process to see if the area grows - presumably they cant afford to give all such patients MRI scans as many of these small areas could be cysts or other small, non-cancerous areas.

Granted CO-VID did play a role - but by the time she did get the cancer diagnosed  (which was postponed on one occasion) it was September and it the disease had progressed from Stage 1 to Stage 3 in her Lymph nodes. She sadly passed last September.

The reason lung cancer survivial rates are so poor in the country, is that those that need the urgent diagnosis (at stage 1) arent getting them.

My message to anyone not already in the system for a diagnostic scan, who has a potential cancer, would be to go private whereever possible

Hi JRT...patients who are flagged USOC are seen as priority by the NHS.

A family member has recently been in the same situation and dilemma.. she chose the Private option, her NHS scan was 2 days later.. her treatment was carried out by the NHS and she will be having radiotherapy once her wound has healed  [ breadt and lymph node cancer]

Many years ago I saw a Consultant privately for a diagnosis but underwent all my treatment through the NHS. This included extended inpatient care and major surgery..

If you choose to have a mammogram privately it will make no difference to the treatment you will be offered through the NHS.