"NHS Patient Dies from Skin Cancer Following Refusal of Unpaid Private Test"

A 24-year-old man, Gregor Lynn, died from skin cancer after initially opting not to pay for a private test that could have detected his condition earlier. He had a lesion removed privately but didn't pay an additional fee for a histological analysis, which would have been free on the NHS if he had qualified for it. The cancer was later diagnosed when it had already spread, and despite treatment, he passed away. The coroner has raised concerns about the cost barrier preventing patients from completing necessary medical procedures and has issued a warning to the NHS and Department of Health about the potential risk of future deaths.