"Am I Expected To Roll Over And Die?" Cancer Treatment Delayed As Eastbourne Man Can't Get Test

The unavailability of a Covid-19 test through the NHS wesbite has delayed a man's cancer treatment in Eastbourne.

A man suffering from colon cancer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he was not able to get a test after refreshing the web page for more than 24 hours.

The individual was asked to get a test after coughing while making an appointment with his docter over the phone.

On Thursday (10) morning he was told that he could not go to hospital until he got a test.

On Friday he told More Radio:

"I filled in all my details on the government website and the message came back saying there was nothing available.

"It said to keep trying, so I did.

"Every five minutes or so I tried, and I tried literally until midnight last night but nothing at all came up.

"In the meantime I searched online and I saw there was a site at the Amex but there was no way of contacting them, I was previously told there was a site in Bexhill behind the police station - but I don't know if that's still there.

"The point is that this is absolutely ridiculous, my cancer treatment has now been stopped. I have colon cancer.

"It's been stopped until I get a negative Covid test, and I can't! I've been trying since seven this morning and there's nothing, zilch."

People across the UK have reportedly been struggling to get tests over the last few weeks, or have been sent hundreds of miles away.

Matt Hancock earlier in the week claimed the problem is caused by too many people getting tests who do not have symptoms and have not otherwise been asked.

Meanwhile, people like this cancer patient in Eastbourne are facing the reality of not being able to get a test.

He added:

"Matt Hancock keeps saying that the government are doing everything to make it easier, but where's the testing?

"Without a negative test, or whatever happens... Without a test my cancer treatment can't continue.

"So, am I expected to just simply roll over and die?

"Is this what the government wants, cancer patients to just die?

"I don't want to give up and say goodbye.

"What do I do? Literally, what do I do?

"Do I just give up and say well, I'll just end it all?

"I don't want to end it all, I've got a wife to look after and to help, this sort of thing - I don't want to just give up and zilch, nothing.

"I want to carry on the treatment."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he hopes to increase daily testing capacity to half a million by the end of November.

Conservative MP for Eastbourne Caroline Ansell has since said that her office has been in touch with the individual and they are 'on the case'.

Caroline said:

"We are on the case for him.

"In fact I have spoken with the Chief Executive at the hospital and also the public director of health, just to make sure that this test is duly completed and done.

"This isn't the normal system so we have been really pleased to make sure that all ends well."