Testing times

It’s right and proper that the Scottish Government should be backing a campaign to encourage the over-50s to be tested for bowel cancer (your report, 18 February).

It’s one way to reduce the
incidence of this dreadful 
illness. However, why is the government being so slow in introducing the flexible sigmoidoscopy test, the tiny camera which it is claimed could discover bowel cancer at an early stage and 
reduce cases by a third?

Surely if it is considered appropriate for a roll-out programme to be started in England this year, the Scottish people should be able to avail themselves of the same opportunity. Or is the independence debate causing other important issues to be sidelined?

Bob MacDougall

Kippen

Stirlingshire