Another health issue being weaponised today by Reporting Scotland:
Blood cancer patients in Argyll face having to make round trips of 200 miles or more to access some of their care.
In-person haematology consultations at their local hospital, Lorn and the Islands in Oban have been withdrawn.
Health boards providing the cancer services said virtual appointments were available, but added that some patients would need to travel to Glasgow.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-66670592
The BBC report does not explicitly say that these longer journeys will directly affect outcomes but repeatedly implies so. This is because they have no research findings to offer.
This research based on 3 718 patients from northern Sweden’s very remote communities concerns colorectal cancer so may not be exactly applicable:
In contrast to most other studies, no association between travel time and colorectal cancer survival was found; despite that longer travel time was associated with known risk factors for poorer outcome. In the Swedish health care setting, travel time does not appear to represent a barrier to care or to negatively influence outcomes.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0236799
A key factor for the researchers was:
Longer travel time to the nearest hospital for patients with colorectal cancer was associated with older age, lower socioeconomic status, and living alone.
Subsidized travel to care could be one way to mitigate distance related barriers to care. A study from Norway, with the same population pattern and health care system as Sweden, found no association between travel distance and cancer survival. In both Sweden and Norway, all patients are entitled to free or subsidized travel to care. In other universal (e.g., U.K.) or mixed health care systems (e.g., Australia), support with travel costs are based on income and/or distance to the caregiver. The potential role of free or subsidized travel deserves more attention, especially with regard to patient adherence to repeated oncological treatment and outcome.
Argyll patients who need free transport get it:
Patient Travel Scheme
All NHS Scotland patients are entitled to help with travel costs if they are in receipt of certain income-based benefits. This assistance is not dependent on distance travelled.
Highlands and Islands Patient Travel Scheme
This scheme recognises that patients who are resident in the Highlands and Islands may be required to travel significant distances to attend hospital appointments given the geography of the area.
Under this scheme all patients from the former Highlands and Islands Development Board areas are entitled to financial assistance with their travel costs if they live more than 30 miles from the hospital they are attending. Patients not on a qualifying benefit are required to pay the first £10 of any claim.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
The services will be restricted because not enough patients use them. They travel to better facilities. Centre of excellence. It increases their care and prolongs lives.
People with heart attacks or strokes need to get to medical facilities as quickly as possible. Get to the local Dr or nurse. Pharmacy as quickly as possible by any means. Get help. Do not wait for ambulances etc. They can come later. Do not wait. Get help quick as possible. It helps chances of survival. Do not delay. Get the Police if necessary. They have training and quick vehicles. They can get peopleto medical facilities quickly or meet up with medical care.
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Hey John, I hope your getting involved in the SNP rebuttle unit, given your already doing it daily…. Many thanks for sending these out Scott
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They haven’t asked me.
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Perhaps reach out directly to the Foote guy as he’s probably not aware of your work or Humza directly, your work is too vital and needs to be part of the official unit… Many thanks
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No Research to back up the BBCScorchedland innuendo ?
Of course not !
Their research extends as far as a wee woman with a Health grievance who is a neighbour of Lisa Summers phoning in to Pacific Quay and Kaye Adams building a poisonous Phone-in around this with loaded calls from her Unionist playbook .
Then John Beattie picks up the baton ( drops it several times ) and attempts to impersonate a serious social investigator while humming Rule Britannia .
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