Cancer inequality - Charles

[notknowledgeable]

Obviously I know life is unfair, but even so I am stunned. Treatment starts the same week he is diagnosed? Most of us have to wait 2-4 months. And I don't expect he will be directed to food banks when the DWP repeatedly stuffs up his ESA claim either

If you had heath insurance; you'd get top notch quick care, bet your life he has, along with every other half rich person in the world.. Not even rich, I used to have health insurance through work.

Oh you can certainly get private treatment. DH was offered that opportunity years ago to avoid a wait that looks like nothing as compared to now. Luckily an opening was found for him on the NHS or he would have taken it, because his surgeon kept emphasising how important for his case it was that everything move along quickly.

I seethe quietly for others at missed targets because although in many cases it doesn’t have an impact, sometimes even moderate delays matter.

London based. Dh diagnosed with cancer a year ago having been seen within a week of referral, and was given the option of starting treatment within the week. As it Happens he opted to wait longer for an alternative form of treatment but it was possible in the NHS. I suspect much is to do with location amongst other things.

It must be a post code lottery issue. When I was diagnosed, I had surgery a week later. Whenever I’ve had a scare, I’ve had follow up scans within a week. Really surprised and also sorry that some people have to wait months.

So whats it got to do with the point of this thread, ie NHS waiting times?

Btw, this treatment our king is receiving, do you have evidence that the follow ups are indeed privately funded?

I have private health insurance through axa and still had to wait 2 months for an endoscopy and 6 weeks for physio. Better than the nhs but certainly not next day.

Ditto and I feel for those having to wait even a couple of days once they have a diagnosis.

Probably postcode lottery

I know someone who waited 2 months for a confirmed diagnosis. Then a few weeks before chemo started

I have no doubt he is getting special treatment. However, cancers in my family and wider social circle the treatments have started within a week or two. Remember uncle being still stunend form the diagnosis when my aunty was trying to make notes cause the doctor immediately started with treatment plan.

Just be glad that he is getting treatment, OP, because envy is a really unattractive quality.

my friend who lives in midscotland was diagnosed and had an initial operation by 2 weeks in an "ordinary " oncology department.

We haven't got private health insurance. My husband was immediately put on the two week path way after a visit to the GP. Scan and diagnosis within a month. Op within 5 weeks. Pathology results within 7 weeks. Outstanding NHS treatment. So grateful.

I was diagnosed on a Wednesday and had surgery the following Monday.

I’m not royalty by the way.

I thought there was a 2 week rule for cancer?

You're stunned? I would have been stunned if this weren't the case.

Very true - one of our family has private cover for self and family and had to enure a wait even with private care as they have waiting lists if you want to see a particular doctor etc

As more and more people are paying for their private healthcare and I don't mean rich people or those comfortably off - its the ordinary man and woman down the road who is worried and enduring massive waiting lists pay for medical investigations etc as I did. This is turn is increasing waiting times in some areas of the country and certain types of medical treatments etc

Vote like serfs, behave like serfs, get treated like serfs.

People vote for Old Etonians, argue that unions are scum, glorify their betters. Shit public services and wages while the rich get everything they need is the result.

It seems a lot of people have had a similar experience to us. Routine screenings to check for cancer ( breast and bowel) have low take ups. Some people don't want to be helped.

This is a myth now. Private hospitals are taking on more and more Private patients as people don't want to wait, more nhs patients to help clear the backlog, the waiting rooms are full, you get 20mins for £250 if you're lucky, it's rare to get that quick treatment within days that used to happen when the NHS was half decent.

2 weel rule from referral letter sent of by GP and first appointment with a specialist, eG consultation, then medical investigations etc and once diagnosed, depending on whats what and where you live, it can and does take up to several weeks to start treatment etc

two week rule between GP referal and test for diagnosis. After that two weeks, you might have to wait months for test results and longer for treatment. Then if you are diagnosed and treated, and the cancer spreads again, even the two week rule no longer applies.

I have a friend waiting for test results from December - she will get the results in April. This is for potential lung cancer ( secondary)

My mum was treated straight away on the NHS on the 2 occasions she had breast cancer.

I'm no royalty fan but I dare say if Charlie had gone for NHS treatment (unlikely but possible....Zara Phillips had her kids on the NHS) he'd have been jumped on for utilising NHS facilities when he can afford it privately. And I'm a strong NHS supporter.

Of course the King should have access to fast treatment for his cancer. Without knowing what type of cancer he has, there is no way of making comparisons to the waiting time for other people as the treatment path varies so much. I'm not aware of any announcement having been made on where he is having his treatment, but it seems logical to assume that he will be treated at the same private hospital as his recent surgery. I doubt very much that he is being treated at his local London NHS hospital, and if he is going privately, then most people with health insurance or with the money to pay would start treatment very quickly.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, all of my treatment was on the NHS, and I was offered surgery within a week of establishing its grade and stage, for a ten hour operation. Because this was just before Christmas and I was facing such major surgery, I chose to wait until very early in the new year. The treatment I received on the NHS was superb, and I don't believe it could have been better in a top private hospital. I realise that not everyone has the same experience as I did with the NHS, and that waiting times are now longer after the pandemic, but I really don't understand why some people are begrudging the King prompt treatment, especially if he's being treated privately.

@DistinguishedSocialCommenator what do you mean by privately funded? That he’s funding it himself or we are? All of the royals money is public funding so kind of splitting hairs? 🤷‍♀️

I'll be forever grateful for King Charles. My investigatory surgery was 12 months away 2 weeks ago, I'm now told it is happening within the next month oh dear, oh dear! Good old Charlie. I really do somehow think he has had a part in all this, getting hospitals to act as I didn't complain formally about it and when I checked in with the private service I've been paying monthly they couldn't tell me the wait time either.

Wishing King Charles and anybody else with cancer, the very best for their recovery.