http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1659149_1,00.html
June 18, 2005
Go private or wait 80 weeks, patient told
By Nigel Hawkes, Health Editor

A HOSPITAL told a road accident victim that she would have to wait a
year and a half for an NHS brain scan, but could have the procedure
done privately at the same unit in two weeks, The Times has learnt.
In a case that highlights the crisis in diagnostic tests, King's
College Hospital, London, warned Rachel King that, because of "heavy
demand", the MRI scan that her consultant had sought could be delayed
for 80 weeks.

But a handwritten note at the end of the letter gave a telephone
number for the hospital's "self-pay" private clinic, where she could
have the procedure in two weeks for £983.

Ms King's case is the starkest example yet of widespread delays in
diagnostic tests across the health service. One in five trusts has
waiting times of more than a year for MRI scans, and two in five have
waits of more than six months.

A quarter of trusts said that 25 per cent or more of their scanning
capacity was not used but lack of staff and resources prevent
increased usage.

To cut the backlog, the Department of Health has signed a £90 million
contract with Alliance Medical Ltd to provide mobile MRI scanners. The
contract has proved controversial, but both AML and the department
claim it is now working well and cutting waiting times.

Ms King, 32, from Erith, Kent, was knocked down by a car in January.
She suffered a broken collarbone, five broken ribs, a shoulder blade
broken in three places and head injuries. She was in hospital for 17
days. After she suffered dizzy spells and reduced vision, her
consultant referred her for an MRI scan. She said that she was
appalled to receive the letter from King's, saying that, because of
"heavy demand", the scan would be delayed.

What added insult to injury was the handwritten note on the bottom,
which read: "If you want to go privately call 0845 6080991 for
prices."

When she did, the telephone was answered by King's College Self Pay,
who said that the cost of such a scan was £983, and she could have the
procedure in a couple of weeks.

"It's insulting" she said. "I was absolutely distraught. I need
reassurance that the damage isn't permanent. All I want is to know if
it is going to get better.

"I still have falls, and I can't return to work or drive. I've never
signed on the dole in my life but I have had to now."

King's College Hospital said in a statement that it recognised that an
80-week wait for scans was unacceptable. It had recently received
funds to expand its services, with the aim of getting waiting times
down to 26 weeks by next March.

Patients identified as clinically urgent by referring doctors would be
seen sooner, the statement said. It added that the handwritten note
had been included because Ms King had discussed with her consultant
the possibility of going private.

"It is not considered best practice to have handwritten additions to
letters and internal processes will be reviewed in the light of this
letter," it said.

Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, said: "It is
simply appalling that while ministers crow about the drop in treatment
waiting times, there are still thousands of people languishing for
months, or even years, on hidden waiting lists.

"To have to wait 80 weeks just to get a diagnosis before you end up on
the official waiting list figures is just simply not good enough.
"The NHS needs radical reform to ensure that scanners are used more
efficiently, at evenings and weekends, and to cut these long waits."

Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, said: "The Government
talks about waiting times coming down but people are waiting far too
long for diagnostics.

"There is increased MRI capacity but not enough staff in the NHS to
keep them operating longer hours."

Lord Warner, the Health Minister, said that no hospital should make
patients feel pressured into pursuing private treatment. "It would be
completely unacceptable for any hospital to ignore their obligations
to provide speedy access to NHS treatment," he said.

"Instances such as this demonstrate why the Government is right to
continue to take urgent action to expand capacity in the NHS. By 2008
nobody will wait longer than 18 weeks from GP appointment to
treatment."

Other cases have illustrated similar problems:

Keith Taylor, a retired teacher from Derby who suffers from tremors in
his hands, was told by Derbyshire Royal Infirmary that he faced a
12-month wait for an MRI scan - but got it in weeks by paying £400.

At Kingston Hospital, Southwest London, a leaked letter from a
radiologist revealed that waits for scans had risen in the past year
from 26 to 52 weeks, and were soon expected to reach 78 weeks. Dr
Caroline Ward said that there was spare scanning capacity but no money
to use it. It would be used only for urgent referrals and private
patients in March as the year's budget had been spent.