World Cancer Day

Thank you for your piece.  Its a reminder that some cancers: ovarian, cervical, can be cured once detected early.  

After reading a similar story on CR, I called my GP surgery to book my appointment but was met with a new procedure that states that I should get a letter and without such letter, the test can no longer be done on a drop in basis.  

I tried to book at another local clinic and was given the same rhetoric about having a letter from 'NHS England'.  I know that I was due for a check up as they are done every 3 years, so I couldn't understand why the importance of a letter was deterring having this test.  

Eventually I called NHS England, who were quite shocked to hear about 'their letters'.  The lovely advisor said all letters are sent from the GP surgery to their patients and they don't have any way of advising if I'm on 'the list'.  

Frustratingly, I went back to my GP surgery, demanded to speak with the Nurse to find out definitively, if I was on the list.  This all took 3 weeks!  I finally was able to make an appointment - its booked for the 6th March!