• WHY are doctors not asking patients to attend their surgeries for five-yearly check ups from 40 years onwards?

I suffered a broken leg from a minor cycling accident. The reason was because I had a serious calcium deficiency. The cost of the operation was around £3,000; the cost of an appointment with a GP and a prescription is peanuts.

In another case mentioned to me recently, the failure to diagnose prostate cancer, probably possible around 40 years old since the condition was in the family, has meant that the saving of a few pounds may well result in the cost to the NHS of tens of thousands and a lot of possibly unnecessary suffering.

We should all be asked to attend the surgery for a check-up from the age of 40 years and thereafter every five years. This service is paid for by us and exists for our benefit and to save the NHS money because a stitch in time does, indeed, save nine.

I have never met anyone who was asked to attend at the age of 40, or 45 or at any age this side of drawing a pension, if, indeed, even then. Does the NHS not accept that prevention is the best policy?

I urge everyone over the age of 40 to claim what is theirs and get an appointment. Find out if there are any potential approaching issues and maybe take some corrective action if suggested. We’ve paid for this service and we should collect. It’s ours.

There may be, and hopefully will be, an excessive demand on local surgeries. Let them sweat but let’s be patient. The rewards to us are immediate and to them, in a decade or more, will be massive.

PETER RUTHERFORD
Pandora Road, NW6