A Fife man who had part of his lung removed during cancer treatment fears he has been written off after he failed to qualify for coronavirus shielding support.
Former miner Pat Egan is convinced he would die if he contracted covid-19 as a result of his reduced lung capacity following an operation in 2017.
The 59-year-old said he could not believe he had not received a letter from the Scottish Government telling him to shield, a move that would entitle him to essential assistance and support, including food and medical deliveries.
People in certain groups, including those undergoing cancer treatment, people who have received organ transplants and patients with severe respiratory illnesses, have been told they are at the highest risk from coronavirus.
They are advised to stay indoors and keep away from other people for 12 weeks.
Mr Egan said he should also be eligible, particularly as he has been told there is a 50% chance of his cancer returning.
His wife Brenda is a nurse at Cameron Hospital, where covid-19 patients are being cared for.
“I had lung cancer in 2017,” he said.
“They cut the tumour out at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and that left me with reduced lung capacity.
“If I contract covid-19 and it goes into my lung, I’m not sure I’d be able to fight it.”
The Glenrothes man said his GP had told him he would be at more risk than most if he was affected by coronavirus but that it was only those undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy who would be shielded.
Instead, Mr Egan’s medical records have been passed to NHS 24 so they have them at their fingertips if he has to call 111.
“It seems strange,” he said.
“I think they should include other categories, especially if they’re lung-related.
“It can’t just be me in this position.
“From a purely economical viewpoint, it must have cost a fortune for the treatment I got so for them to just write me off doesn’t make sense.”
The Scottish Government said it had identified people eligible for shielding support through their GPs, local health board or nationally-held data.
A spokesperson urged anyone who felt they should be asked to shield to contact their doctor.
“We have identified and written to people in the highest clinical risk groups (shielded group) in Scotland, including people in all of the key categories,” they said.
“If people have not received a letter but feel they should be in the shielding group, they should speak to their GP or specialist clinician, who can add their names to the shielded group if, in their clinical judgement, they are at very high risk from Covid-19.”
