Covid guru Devi: How my fight for NHS cancer care laid bare Scotland's waiting list crisis
A public health expert who advised the Scottish and UK governments has revealed how her own battle to access cancer treatment exposed chronic failures within the NHS.
Professor Devi Sridhar became a leading voice during the pandemic, when she counselled Nicola Sturgeon on the SNP 's COVID response and made regular appearances on television shows like Good Morning Britain and Channel 4 News.
But despite her significant expertise and government influence, the Oxford-educated academic was told she could face a six-month wait to learn whether the abnormal cells discovered in a smear test were cancerous.
Ms Sridhar said: 'I was calling three to four times a day to see if anything was available, saying I could come any time.
'It was scary and it was frustrating because I teach this stuff, right? So I know there's delays in the system and I also know the statistics on treatments. Each day I move forward [before] being treated, my chance goes down by 2 per cent.'
Like 280,000 other Scottish women each year, Sridhar had undergone a routine test to detect signs of HPV, a group of viruses responsible for 95 per cent of cervical cancer cases.
The health expert was shocked to receive a call explaining that 'possibly cancer' was present – but even less prepared for the prognosis of indefinite delays and administrative chaos that accompanied it.
Sridhar repeatedly begged for a date for a follow-up consultation, but was left 'waiting on a letter from the system where you're just a data point'.
Having lost her own father to cancer when he was just 49, the prospect of facing lengthy delays while simply hoping for the best was particularly galling.
She told The Sunday Times: 'Everyone did say, 'he's gonna be alright'. And he wasn't,'
Although the professor is sympathetic to the pressures on NHS staff, she admits that her struggle to beat the backlog reveals the extent of the crisis facing the health service.
She added: 'We're not meeting the targets for even those with an active cancer diagnosis … and that is why our survival outcomes are not as good as other countries.'
Ultimately, Ms Sridhar's persistence paid off and she was given a cancelled appointment slot after two months.
The abnormal cells were frozen to stop them from growing and Sridhar also received the HPV vaccine to increase her immune system's response to the virus.
But she advises that her own experience demonstrates how 'you have to be an active participant in your patient journey' to access timely care – a daunting challenge for those without the academic's medical expertise.
The warning comes after Public Health Scotland revealed that more than a quarter of patients referred with urgent suspicion of cancer are waiting longer than the 62-day target for their first treatment.
Cancer Research UK's public affairs manager in Scotland, Dr Sorcha Hume, criticised the waiting times as 'completely unacceptable'.
She said: 'NHS staff are doing their best but they're battling against under-investment alongside rising cancer cases.
'If we're to turn the tide on the anxiety faced by so many, we need to see adequate funding for staff and equipment.
'Innovative reform and rapid progress against Scotland's cancer strategy is also essential.'
While Ms Sridhar credits the NHS screening programme with protecting her health, she echoed CRUK's call for increased investment in public health initiatives.
She said: 'I don't understand sometimes why we think we're saving money by pulling back from screening programmes, prevention programmes, intervention programmes, when it ends up costing us more in the end.'
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Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. "Unlike most pharmacies they don't just send you your medication and leave you to figure it out on your own. They offer full support alongside it. "They give you 1:1 health coaching, and my coach has been incredible in helping me with my mindset around my emotional eating, something I would have struggled to deal with alone." Clare was nervous before taking her first injection, but once she did it, she said she barely felt a thing. She continued: "Within hours, the constant food noise in my head quieted down. 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Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
