If £2.65 test saves lives, use it!

Your Health Editor Barney Calman’s article last week about Joel Atkinson being one of thousands of patients to miss out on a simple blood test to diagnosis leukaemia resonated with me on a personal level.

My husband was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) back in 2006.

He had started to complain about feeling tired, but was really busy with work so didn’t think much of it.

Then one day he was troubled by chest pains so he saw his GP. The doctor said that he needed a blood test the next day, and a repeat blood test three days later, which then gave us the devastating news that it was AML.

Our GP doesn’t know why he repeated the blood test, but thank goodness he did. Unfortunately, my husband spent his 50th birthday in the hospital and sadly, in March 2007, he died.

Therefore, I would urge all GPs, for the sake of a check that costs just £2.65, to do the blood test. It may just save someone’s life.

I also wish the best of luck to Joel and his wife Amy. Stay well and enjoy life.

Name and address supplied