Speedier Cancer Diagnosis

Traditionally private health insurance has promoted the speedy return of test results when people enter the private health care system. The NHS, who have been returning results faster than ever before, have new directives from the government to give those suspected of suffering from cancer even quicker turnarounds. With the health insurance sector struggling to provide comprehensive health insurance for cancer for their customers this will come as a welcome initiative.

Faster results means faster diagnosis and faster treatment which at most could save lives and at minimum will prevent anxiety as people have to wait less time to hear. The government aim to reduce waiting times from two weeks to then to one and this is seen as a great breakthrough as the UK survival rates for cancer are not very good when compared to other EU countries. Slow diagnosis is considered to be the main reason for this.

Professor Steve Field, professor of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), said:

'We are delighted to hear of the proposal to provide GPs with better access to diagnostics - it echoes what the RCGP has been calling for a long time and is a major boost for patients and for GPs who work hard to provide the very best possible care for our patients.

'Giving GPs easier access is a superb idea. Even if the results of the tests are normal, it will be of great benefit and reassure patients. It will also help us to pick up on very early symptoms so that we can stop the development of cancers and other serious diseases and save more lives.'

As reported by Health Insurance News UK, providing comprehensive medical insurance for cancer is something that the private health insurance market has been struggling with. Most companies do not provide comprehensive medical insurance for cancer as it is simply too expensive . In order to cover their risks providers have to charge large premiums. As the NHS improves its cancer diagnosis, treatment and care the medical insurance sector will no doubt breathe a sigh of relief.