An Alexandria radio presenter referred for a scan after having a tumour removed has hit out after being asked if he wanted to be removed from the lengthy waiting list.
Alan Caldwell, of community station Lomond Radio, is one of hundreds of patients on a waiting list for a Dexa scan - which is able to identify slight changes in bone density.
It is the only type of scan available that can diagnose osteoporosis before a bone is broken.
He’s been left angry after receiving a letter asking him if he wanted to continue waiting, labelling the situation “a recipe for disaster.”
It comes as a Freedom of Information request revealed that the average wait for a Dexa scan in the NHSGGC area was 56 weeks in December of last year – compared with just eight weeks in January 2018.
Alan, who was referred by a consultant after undergoing an operation to remove a benign tumour four years ago, said: “When I got the letter I didn’t really know what was going on. I was being asked to make a medical decision, did I still want a scan?
“Surely that’s not for me to answer?
“I wasn’t aware that I was scheduled for another Dexa scan, but obviously my consultant has put that in to check that things are still progressing in the right way.
“The first letter I got was on March 16 saying that I was on the waiting list for a scan, asking if I wanted to remain on that.
“Then I got a follow-up saying that they hadn’t heard from me, and if I didn’t require a scan then I’d be removed from the waiting list and referred to the consultant.
“That’s putting the horse before the cart. For me they should be contacting the consultant to ask if patients still need a scan, because I don’t know if I do or not.
“That was the aspect that annoyed me. It felt like the focus was on getting the waiting list down rather than providing a service to the people who require it.
“My issue is that patients have been asked to make medical decisions. I feel like that’s a recipe for disaster.
“There will be people out there who decide that they don’t need a scan when they do. That’s my big concern. It’s wrong to ask patients to make medical decisions.”
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie, who submitted the Freedom of Information request which revealed waiting times, said: “It is unacceptable for a patient who has been stuck on a waiting list for any important test to be asked if they still need this to be carried out, without medical advice.
“This should not be up to an individual but should be a clinical decision.
“I am worried that people who may feel this is hanging over them decide not to wait any longer and could worsen their condition as a result.”
The health board said there were 39 vacancies for radiographers across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
It has also been revealed to Ms Baillie, during a constituent enquiry regarding Dexa scanning, that two scanners (one at Stobhill and one at the RAH) have been undergoing emergency replacement, further reducing capacity.
Ms Baillie added: “The SNP government need to work closely with health boards like NHSGGC, who have the longest waits, to help them manage this - but not by encouraging people to drop off the list.
“The figures relating to patients in Greater Glasgow and Clyde are incredibly worrying especially when they concern a condition where early intervention is important.
“Without timely scanning of this kind, people at risk of osteoporosis can have far poorer outcomes and may also end up putting pressure on the health service elsewhere, such as A&E where there are already lengthy waits. This can be avoided with quicker scanning turnaround times.
“There appears to be a real postcode lottery here with waits in nearby health boards a fraction of what they are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
“With long waits and two scanners recently out of action, people suspected as having osteoporosis locally have been badly let down and this needs to be fixed urgently.”
A spokesman for NHSGGC said: “We would like to apologise to anyone waiting longer than they would have expected for Dexa scans.
“Due to global demand, there was a delay in the two new scanners arriving in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, but we can confirm both have now been received and final testing and calibration is currently taking place, in line with clinical and legislative requirements.
“All unfilled Dexa radiographer positions have now been recruited for and teams are working hard to reduce waiting times.”
