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Any UK hospitals currently undertaking tests? (not Covid)

tommo901
Offline

Hi All,

My colleague in work has been very unwell for around 3 weeks now and is unsure what the issue is.

He has lost significant weight and is lothagic / tired throughout the day.

After speaking with a number of consultants, he was told that they do not think it is Covid, and have some suspicions that it could be cancer. Unfortunately, there is no formal diagnosis as of yet, and the consultants would like him to get an Endoscopy and Colonoscopy to understand more.

The problem - no hospitals in the UK seem to be accepting anyone for any tests other than Covid right now. His family are currently ringing every hospital in the UK (NHS and private) to try and find somewhere that may take him for the required testing, but so far have had zero luck! He lives in Bromley (London) but is happy to travel anywhere in the UK given the circumstances.

Apologies for the lack of detail - I've had a brief conversation with him today over the phone and am just trying to help.

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If anyone has any info at all, that would be greatly appreciated!
All the best,

Tom

  • Hi Tom,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm sorry to read about your colleague - the uncertainty is never easy to deal with, and a lot of things have become more difficult at the moment with everything going on.

    Unfortunately I'm not able to advise on this - the usual process would be that he would need a referral from his doctor, and then you'd receive an appointment in due course.

    I hope you're able to find out more soon.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Ben

    Hi Ben, 

    Thanks very much for your reply - much appreciated.

    I totally understand your point, and that is definiitely what he would be doing in the usual circumstances.

    After speaking with him again, I now understand that he has indeed spoken with his GP, and has been fast tracked. However, he was supposed to be seen within 14 days and it is now already past that. Moreover, his appointment is for another consultation only; in the meantime he has already been told by numerous other consultants (that he booked privately) that now, he just needs the two tests (Endoscopy & Colonoscopy) to understand more and hopefully diagnose the issue.

    I am posting here incase anyone is currently lined up for, or is in the process of booking those tests at any UK hospitals. From what we have been told by the consultants, and can see from ringing round a very large list of hospitals so far, there is nowhere in the UK that will take anyone for those tests right now...which seems like utter madness?!

    I absolutely understand the scale of the current crisis, and agree that the NHS and private hospitals should be ready for the potential influx (My Mum is working on the front lines as a Nurse too), however I find it hard to believe that anyone requiring urgent cancer diagnosis tests cannot be seen at all.

     

    Again, if anyone has any extra info I would be greatly appreciative! :)

    Thanks so much and all the best,

    Tom

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