Private screening could be a waste (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Private screening could be a waste

Patients have been warned that they may be wasting their time and money by paying for private screening tests.

The British Medical Association said the tests, which are not part of formal NHS screening programmes, may cause more harm than good and provide inconsistent results.

They also warned that screening of this nature was diverting scarce NHS resources away from where it was most needed.

The BMA's report Population Screening And Genetic Testing came as the private market for services such as whole body CT scans and heart testing continued to grow in the UK.

Last year an estimated £65m was spent on private screening in the UK.

But while patients may pay for the screening, if a problem is discovered it is the NHS that picks up the bill for further tests, counselling and treatment.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA's head of science and ethics, said often these tests picked up something that would never develop into a major health concern during the patient's lifetime.

This meant that people could undergo invasive tests as well as suffer the anxiety of not knowing whether they are ill or not.