A PATIENT who feared she may have cancer after finding a lump was told by Wycombe Hospital she would have to wait two months for a scan.

The 59-year-old grandmother, who does not want her name in the paper, said she was desperately worried that the lump she found in her abdomen may be cancerous.

Her husband, Dave Plumridge, of Warborne Road, Bourne End, said: "We were worried to death about it, I just feel something ought to be done about it.

"She shouldn't have had to wait so long, it's diabolocial."

The woman said: "I was really worried about it but got the appointment back for two months later. In the end we decided to pay to get the scan and only had to wait ten days."

She added that her doctor had said she should phone the hospital to try and get an appointment.

"I was told that I should not phone up and I would have to wait a very very long time to get an appointment," she said.

The mother-of-three had gone to the doctors on July 11 and sent a form off to the hospital within days to book an appointment but was told she would have to wait until September 20. A family member helped pay £172 to get a scan done privately at Chiltern Hospital, which proved negative.

Mr Plumridge said: "It was the peace of mind we needed and it was too long to wait for an appointment at Wycombe Hospital when you suspect you could have cancer."

Martin Leaver, hospital spokesman, said urgent suspected cancer referrals have to be seen within two weeks according to guidelines and routine referrals the first available appointment.