The Society of Radiographers has written to the CEO of Tesco to express concern over a Clubcard reward scheme that allows customers to trade vouchers for CT scans.

The reward deal came to the attention of Society members in May, who immediately informed the Society.

This prompted action from Richard Evans, chief executive of the Society, who wrote to Clubcard executives and Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy. In his letter, Richard writes:

‘A number of our members have contacted me expressing concern that Tesco Clubcard is offering a new opportunity to purchase Lifescan health checks through your scheme. 

‘Members are concerned that your customers may not be aware that Computed Tomography (CT) scanning is a technique involving the use of ionising radiation (x-rays) and that examinations carry their own inherent health risk.’

He continued: ‘It is natural that they [members] should be concerned to see that Tesco have chosen to associate with a company that operates on the basis of self referral to any form of life style screening and particularly where radiation is involved.’

On the Tesco Clubcard website customers are asked: ‘Isn’t it time YOU had an MOT?’ It then goes on to say: ‘The straightforward process uses advanced open CT scanning technology to take high resolution images of your vital organs. The images are so detailed they can reveal the early signs of heart disease, lung cancer, colon cancer, aneurysms, osteoporosis and other illnesses. Catch them early, and they can be treated quickly and effectively. Your detailed confidential report, together with a CD of the images will be sent to you within three working days.’

There has been a great deal of publicity surrounding self referral to private healthcare schemes in recent weeks.

Last month, an investigation was launched by the Society for Vascular Technology into private screening company Life Line, which offers tests to detect the early signs of stroke and heart disease. A group of medical experts, including vascular surgeons, said it was concerned about the reliability of results and the company’s clinical procedures.

In his letter to Tesco, Richard Evans commented: ‘The Society and College of Radiographers is well acquainted with Lifescan. We recognise that the company is well established, operating within the ionising radiation regulations and also has taken account of the COMARE 12 report, in organising the business.

'Nevertheless, the Society and College of Radiographers remain concerned that self referral for diagnostic imaging outside a nationally regulated health screening programme (such as the NHS Breast Screening Programme) is inappropriate and unnecessary. 

‘Inevitably, the promotion of such schemes plays on the natural anxieties of the ‘worried well’ population.’

COMARE’s 12th report deals with the impact of personally initiated x-ray computed tomography scanning for the health assessment of asymptomatic individuals. The report’s nine recommendations prompted a consultation by the Department of Health in June 2008.

By offering private scanning services through reward schemes, the issue of continuity of care is called into question, as Richard explained: ‘We also have serious concerns about the lack of continuity between the Lifescan record and the NHS patient record. This can have potentially very serious implications both for the reliability of Lifescan reports (they are made without reference to previous imaging or other findings) and for the ongoing care of screened individuals.’

The Tesco/Lifescan tie-up is not unique. In 2006, Saga, the over 50s lifestyle company, began offering screening services through Lifescan. Correspondingly, the Society raised  the same concerns with Saga.

There are 15 million Clubcard customers in the UK and since the scheme’s relaunch in May this year Tesco expects a further one million to sign up. It remains to be seen how Tesco will respond to the Society's letter. Watch this space.

Posted: 21/05/2009