Fury as women wait months for urgent cancer checks

Patients tell of agonising hold-ups, despite 2-week target

- BY CHRIS MCCALL

WOMEN suspected of having cancer are being "left in limbo" in Scotland as they wait months for urgent gynaecological appointments, Labour says.

Patients should be seen by the NHS in two weeks in such circumstances, but the Record has heard people are waiting months, in some cases, as hospitals continue to struggle to meet demand.

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour health spokeswoman, said: "An urgent referral should mean just that - yet women are being left in limbo for months and even years when it comes to key gynaecological appointments.

"For women who are diagnosed with cancer, those months could be the difference between life and death."

Mary, a scientist who used to work in the NHS, receives hormone replacement therapy.

After reporting bleeding to her GP, she was referred for an urgent gynaecological appointment on April 29 because of the suspicion of cancer.