This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8030253.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Warning over private health scans | Warning over private health scans |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Health charities and government advisers say they have concerns about private medical screening to detect early signs of several diseases. | Health charities and government advisers say they have concerns about private medical screening to detect early signs of several diseases. |
| About 75,000 people in the UK have paid a US firm up to £150 for tests for conditions such as heart disease and strokes - often after getting letters. | About 75,000 people in the UK have paid a US firm up to £150 for tests for conditions such as heart disease and strokes - often after getting letters. |
| GPs say the letters are scaremongering and the tests are often unnecessary. | GPs say the letters are scaremongering and the tests are often unnecessary. |
| Life Line Screening says it identifies risks and that NHS tests are only provided if patients display symptoms. | Life Line Screening says it identifies risks and that NHS tests are only provided if patients display symptoms. |
| A package of five tests for conditions such as strokes, heart disease, aneurysms and osteoporosis costs about £150 from the firm. | A package of five tests for conditions such as strokes, heart disease, aneurysms and osteoporosis costs about £150 from the firm. |
| It says its tests are carried out by technicians using state-of-the-art mobile ultrasound equipment set up in town halls or community centre across the UK. | It says its tests are carried out by technicians using state-of-the-art mobile ultrasound equipment set up in town halls or community centre across the UK. |
| 'Insufficient evidence' | 'Insufficient evidence' |
| Customers spoken to by the BBC at a screenings said they were happy with the service, citing concerns over the length of time scans or tests can take on the NHS and the difficulty in obtaining appointments. | Customers spoken to by the BBC at a screenings said they were happy with the service, citing concerns over the length of time scans or tests can take on the NHS and the difficulty in obtaining appointments. |
| I think this is really tantamount to scaremongering Dr Jonathan Freedman | I think this is really tantamount to scaremongering Dr Jonathan Freedman |
| But according to the body which advises the government on screening, the procedures offered by private companies such as Life Line Screening can be expensive, unnecessary and misleading. | But according to the body which advises the government on screening, the procedures offered by private companies such as Life Line Screening can be expensive, unnecessary and misleading. |
| The UK National Screening Committee says the NHS offers tests for osteoporosis, strokes and heart disease for free. | The UK National Screening Committee says the NHS offers tests for osteoporosis, strokes and heart disease for free. |
| Anne Mackie, its director of programmes, added: "Many, many of these programmes which the companies offer - and for some they offer to a particular age group - we would recommend you don't [take] because the balance of harm outweighs the benefits... | Anne Mackie, its director of programmes, added: "Many, many of these programmes which the companies offer - and for some they offer to a particular age group - we would recommend you don't [take] because the balance of harm outweighs the benefits... |
| "You can find on these tests things which - if you hadn't known - would never have been significant. | "You can find on these tests things which - if you hadn't known - would never have been significant. |
| "You might end up having tests and examinations - potentially some of them quite unpleasant - that you would not have had, had you not had the screening." | "You might end up having tests and examinations - potentially some of them quite unpleasant - that you would not have had, had you not had the screening." |
| A number of charities also say they do not endorse the screenings. | A number of charities also say they do not endorse the screenings. |
| One test is described as osteoporosis screening - but the National Osteoporosis Society says it does not support ultrasound for diagnosing the disease. | One test is described as osteoporosis screening - but the National Osteoporosis Society says it does not support ultrasound for diagnosing the disease. |
| What we try to do is identify people with risk factors before any symptoms occur Aileen Morrison, Life Line Screening | What we try to do is identify people with risk factors before any symptoms occur Aileen Morrison, Life Line Screening |
| The British Heart Foundation says of one of the main Life Line Screening tests for detecting risk of stroke - there is "insufficient evidence that it is an appropriate screening test... in symptom-less individuals". | The British Heart Foundation says of one of the main Life Line Screening tests for detecting risk of stroke - there is "insufficient evidence that it is an appropriate screening test... in symptom-less individuals". |
| GP Jonathan Freedman, meanwhile, has received a letter from Life Line Screening along with many of his patients. | GP Jonathan Freedman, meanwhile, has received a letter from Life Line Screening along with many of his patients. |
| "I've had a lot of patients coming in now - many have been elderly patients - many have been vulnerable - many have had quite a lot of illnesses already and I think this is really tantamount to scaremongering," he said. | "I've had a lot of patients coming in now - many have been elderly patients - many have been vulnerable - many have had quite a lot of illnesses already and I think this is really tantamount to scaremongering," he said. |
| But Life Line Screening insists early detection of conditions can be life saving and says it is not out to scare people. | But Life Line Screening insists early detection of conditions can be life saving and says it is not out to scare people. |
| Aileen Morrison from the company said: "We don't intend to frighten anybody with our marketing material at all. What we do do is to provide people with information about the conditions and quite often these are compelling statistics. | Aileen Morrison from the company said: "We don't intend to frighten anybody with our marketing material at all. What we do do is to provide people with information about the conditions and quite often these are compelling statistics. |
| "These tests aren't available on the NHS typically, unless you have symptoms, so what we try to do is identify people with risk factors before any symptoms occur - before a serious event such as aneurysm or a stroke occurs". | "These tests aren't available on the NHS typically, unless you have symptoms, so what we try to do is identify people with risk factors before any symptoms occur - before a serious event such as aneurysm or a stroke occurs". |
| Have you had a private health scan? Are you contemplating buying a package of tests? | |
| Send us your comments using the form below: | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |