from twitter – on private screening tests – help!

For the last 18 years, I have been writing about/protesting about the private screening companies who mislead people into either non evidence based testing, or screening which is already available on the NHS for free.

over this time numerous complaints have been upheld by the , but not the (funny that, since their employees get offered free non ebm health screening – see pinned tweet).

but still the adverts go on. problems 1) direct harm to people who didn’t know the concerns about these companies 2) direct harm to NHS who have to mop up all the false positives and hazards these non evidence based screenings consist of.

one company even explicitly states that you can take your wad of results to your NHS GP to discuss. these are tests the NHS doesn’t recommend. It’s not the persons’ fault, it is the fault of the companies.

Not helping is the popularity paradox. essentially it’s how bad tests become more popular. bad screening-> lots of false positives-> people don’t die of the disease-> think life saved but it was actually never at risk from this-> recommend ‘life saving’ test to others.

so it’s a difficult one; it’s hard for healthcare professionals, never mind citizens and politicians to get their head around it. but here is the thing: apparently the CQC are ‘not aware’ of any patient harm from these companies.

BUT WE KNOW IN MEDICINE THAT IF YOU DON’T LOOK FOR HARM YOU WILL NOT FIND IT. WE KNOW THIS. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ASSUME THAT NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.

SO, if you have been misled, made anxious, had test results later shown to be a false alarm, had needless extra tests etc – please please tell the CQC. please tell me you’ve told them so that I know they have had complaints. margaret@margaretmccartney.com

and companies operating in scotland are registered in england, so complain there and

One Response to “from twitter – on private screening tests – help!”

  1. David Cundall November 17, 2018 at 3:58 pm #

    Hi Margaret
    I am a retired community paediatrician in Leeds
    I have recently complained to Bluecrest and the CQC on the grounds of:
    1. most of their tests do not fulfil the criteria for screening tests
    2. results will create unnecessary anxiety in those tested
    3. their activities waste a lot of GPs time
    If you would like copies of the correspondence, please email me with your email address
    best wishes
    David