Just read in The Times that the UK deal with Moderna is at about $25 a dose, so $50 per person, which is the same as paid by the US and EU. Also the EU was only in preliminary talks to buy 80m doses with an option for 80m more, deal has not been completed.
Within the E.U. each country is getting equal access according to population. They have ordered nearly 2 billion doses in total. In Ireland's case, we are getting 1.1% of all vaccines ordered which is something like 22 million doses for a population of 5 million.
Doesn’t surprise me, that’s the politically easy way of doing it. Of course, unless all the doses are available in every country at exactly the same time, it’s not the way which will save most lives, but that would entail some countries saying ‘hey, your need is greater than ours at the moment, we’re happy to wait a bit for our doses’. Which isn’t going to happen.
So my CT scan was normal and they're 95% sure that all the cancer has been removed and that it hadn't spread. Apparently there's a small chance that it could have spread to the lymph nodes without showing up on the scan, and the only way to be certain of that would be to have surgery to remove part of the colon for testing. I don't fancy that, and anyway they're going to continue with regular scans to monitor the situation, which is good enough for me. As I said before, I have nothing but praise for all the NHS people that have been involved in the whole process. As the consultant said to me, the bowel cancer screening programme may well have saved my life. I urge everyone to take part in the programme when invited.
Thanks. No, no dietary advice but I was given the contact details of a Clinical Nurse Specialist who said I could call her at any time if I have any questions, so I might ask her. She said she would call me on Friday anyway, after my case has been discussed at a Multidisciplinary meeting. It really does feel like I'm getting personal service.
When it works well it’s great, especially when it flows from screening. You are very important to their metrics, and to continued investment in catching stuff early, because you show it works.
I would have thought that investment in screening programmes would pay for itself several times over in saved treatment costs. It should be a no-brainer.
Yeah, it does if a good proportion of people turn up, consistently. I can’t find any stats on what % of those asked actually attend in usual times (I will certainly do so when my invitation arrives, given your experience). All I get is that 3 million have missed routine screenings because of COVID, so your experience might have been improved by a reduced throughput.........let’s hope not.
With bowel cancer screening you don't have to turn up anywhere, just return some faeces in the post. You might be right about reduced throughput, though. Where I was today had more staff than patients.
Top news Stroller and I am pleased for you. Hopefully, all will be okay in the future. Big shout out for the NHS.
