Santa takes the test as over 160 men turn up for PSA testing day
28 November 2018
Santa Claus was just one of over 160 men who turned up at Spire Bushey Hospital for a free PSA blood test to check for signs of prostate cancer.
Four phlebotomists were on hand to take the blood samples which will now be examined by the hospital’s pathology staff. Men who need further tests will be contacted within the next two weeks.
Around 11,500 men in the UK die of prostate cancer every year yet early detection can mean 84% of them can live for ten years or more after treatment.
Head of Clinical Services at Spire Bushey, Matron Sara Ryan said: “It was an absolutely amazing response and we were delighted to see so many men take up our offer of a free test. We are always telling men they need to get themselves checked out, so this was us ‘putting our money where our mouth is’ by offering a quick, easy and free way of taking the test.
“Santa Claus gave the occasion a seasonal feel and we are hoping that, after such a great response, we can make it an annual event.”
Nurses, from left, are Jay Buckley (Outpatients manager), Zuzana Tomanekova, Sarah Spreadbury and Sharifa Sherzai hold up the number of men who were tested.
Santa Claus is just one of the men checked for prostate cancer as Jay Buckley takes a blood test.