Call by Highland hotel manager for cancer tests for over-55s in Scotland in response to his dad's plight
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A HOTEL manager is calling on the UK government to provide annual blood tests for everyone over 55 – a move he believes would save lives.
Michael Campbell (30) said the fact that his own father had cancer that could have been easily detected through blood screening meant it was time the government offered a standard yearly test.
Mr Campbell, general manager at the Crown Court Hotel in Inverness, has already got the backing of his former MP, Western Isles member Angus Brendan MacNeil, after submitting a proposal to the Scottish Parliament’s public petitions committee.
He said: “Last year my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He is 70 this year and still a relatively young man.
“It wasn’t until my dad was diagnosed that I realised that in spite of there being blood tests that could have been carried out that would have indicated he had cancer, they were not available to him at an early stage.
“Instead, he had a number of consultations with his own GP and then eventually he had the blood tests.
“Nothing was done wrong in his case, and his treatment has been really good, but if people were offered the test it would and could change lives.
“After my own research I have come to the conclusion that if there were annual blood tests on everybody over the age of 55, when the prevalence of cancer is heightened, then there could be an early intervention.
“It would not only save lives, but it would also save the NHS huge amounts of money to not be treating end-of-life cancer, but catching the disease at the earliest point.”
Mr Campbell has lodged a petition with the Scottish Parliament.
He continued: “It just does not make any sense to go to the doctor and be seen a number of times when one annual test would help from an early stage identify there is a problem.
“I will need all the support I can get when the petition is officially launched.”
MP Mr MacNeil said: “There are other screening programmes for bowel, cervix and breast cancers as well as annual vaccinations for flu and so on, so why not look at this idea of an annual blood test as part of those programmes?
“I will offer Michael as much support as I can and I will certainly be writing in support of his petition when the times comes. I would encourage others to do the same.”
To sign the petition click here.
