A UK medical body has blasted doctors for giving patients drugs and tests they don’t need.
Doctors from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC) drew up a list of 40 treatments they claim are of little or no benefit to the patient.
Alarmingly, on the list is a test that can give early warning of prostate cancer.
Our lead GP, Dr Najma Hussain, says she is concerned by this. “In my experience the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test is a valuable diagnostic tool.
“It does not on its own diagnose prostate cancer but can flag up the possibility of the disease being present so that further investigation can be ordered.
“I was alarmed to see this test on the list and am concerned that it will prevent men coming forward for a simple test that could put in motion a chain of events that saves lives.”
Dr Hussain is not the only person to express concern at the inclusion of PSA blood tests on the list.
Urologists in the UK have spoken out against the advice.
Professor Chris Eden, a consultant urologist at the Royal Surrey County Hospital said: “There is no scientific evidence to back this up. In fact, the opposite is true.”
Our advice is that men should continue to get this test as it is a simple blood test and can save lives.
Call us on 966 860 258 if you wish to book a PSA test.