We have just received the booklet about cervical screening guidelines and
supported by the NHS executive. In it is stated that every patient must have
their smear result given to them in writing. While I think that this is a
perfectly desirable position, it is patently not feasible if one takes this
idea to it's ?logical conclusion......
While I think that the screening programme has been a great success (and we
were and still are doing 3 year smears long before a politician decided it
was a good idea) why should we have to give the results in writing? Anyway
if we have to what about PSA tests, LFTs, FBCs, Urine Cytology,CXRs etc etc
etc? It does seem that cervical screening does get undue prominence in the
minds of health economists. Perhaps it is driven by the fear of journalists.
A secondary consideration is who is going to write to the
patient?..........Guess who will have to do it?....yes -'your family doctor
will let you know the result.' can't you just hear the hospital
'specialists' talking?
Ian Cox
Pangbourne
Reading
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