Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 3:30 pm on 13 March 2019.
I thank the Minister for his answer. My office has been contacted by a former coal miner, who has raised concerns that cases of pneumoconiosis may be going undetected due to outdated diagnostic procedures, and that pneumoconiosis can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms that are associated with it, like coughing and shortness of breath, can be indicative of a wide range of illnesses. The usual course of action for suspected cases is to refer the patient for an x-ray. However, only late-stage pneumoconiosis tends to be picked up by x-rays, and early-stage cases can pass undetected. Former miners face injustice on many fronts; the least they deserve is the peace of mind that they're given the best possible chance of treating this cruel disease. The most effective diagnostic tool is a CT scan. Will the Minister commit to providing CT scans as the default diagnostic tool for former coal miners, who are at high risk of suffering from black lung, as coal miners' pneumoconiosis is often referred to?