Your doctor's medical recommendation for a scan or test to diagnose an illness should always be free. This is a non-negotiable principle of the NHS.

However, our diagnostic services are under immense pressure. Staff and expensive equipment should not be tied up providing free "peace of mind" scans for those who are not medically ill. A fair charge should be introduced for tests that are not medically necessary.

Defining "Non-Essential"

"Non-essential" tests are those not required for a medical diagnosis, such as:

• Scans and tests requested due to general anxiety rather than specific symptoms
• Screening and other tests outside of the official NHS program for your age group
• Tests required for employment, sports clubs, or insurance policies or simply a health check up

This common-sense approach would free up vital appointments for those who are genuinely sick, helping to cut waiting lists and ensuring the NHS is focused on saving lives.

To improve efficiency, there should be an exploration into adapting staff rotas to deliver more scanning hours, including Saturdays.

AI can also be utilised to speed up scan results and reduce costs, which will help clear backlogs.

Travel Vaccine Injections

Currently there is a postcode lottery on whether you will be charged or not for travel vaccines.

The current postcode lottery for travel vaccine charges is unfair and inefficient. Therefore, the proposal is a national, agreed-upon charge for all travel injections. This will enable a more consistent service and ensure a better use of scarce healthcare resources.