A Jersey brain tumour patient has said "processes weren't followed" after she experienced a delay in her diagnosis because she was not offered a CT scan.

Sophie Reid, 36, was taken to Jersey General Hospital after collapsing in her salon in September 2024.

She said her GP requested a CT scan for her, which took place two weeks after she collapsed, and it revealed brain lesions.

Health and Care Jersey (HCJ) said "learning about patient experiences is invaluable in helping us to improve service" but it could not comment on individual cases.

Surgery that took place in Southampton in December showed Ms Reid had a grade three malignant tumour, which means the cancer cells are growing quickly.

She collapsed at her hair salon, Stylistics Hair Studio in Five Oaks, and has only recently returned to carry out some administrative work.

Recalling what happened, she said "we were all laughing and joking" until she went to style a client's hair.

"I was trying to speak and nothing was coming out," she said.

"I felt like I was dying and I couldn't really explain it. I collapsed and I have no memory from when I was on the floor."

'I'm frustrated'

Ms Reid shared her story on social media to call for improvements to the health service.

"I know processes weren't followed – I've been told that," she said.

"When a 36-year-old person who is fit and active has a seizure – why wouldn't you give them a scan?

"I was getting told if I had my seizure in the morning then I would've had my scan straight away and I'm frustrated now because they don't have enough A&E to cover busy periods so processes weren't followed."

The Government of Jersey said in response to a Freedom of Information request HCJ did not have "dedicated policies for the management of either a first seizure" but in the absence of one the process was to "implement the guidelines provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence or Royal Colleges".

The Royal College of Emergency Care recommends CT scans for patients who have experienced seizures for the first time.

'Outpouring of love'

Ms Reid said the diagnosis had also affected the lives of her husband Jordan and their four children.

"It's difficult on some days," she said.

"We have two children with special needs so it's been a lot of up and downs for them."

A close friend launched a fundraiser to help the family while she was off work.

Ms Reid said of the support: "Our entire family are so grateful for the outpouring of love and donations we have received so far."

HCJ said Health Minister Tom Binet and other senior officials had met with Ms Reid to listen to her concerns.

A spokesperson said: "Learning about patient experiences is invaluable in helping us to improve services.

"As a department we are committed to continuously working to improving the delivery of care to Jersey residents and visitors."

Some small business owners in Wiltshire have said trading in cash has benefits – after the government said that, for now, firms will not be forced to accept it.

Bradley Buechel runs a coffee shop in Chippenham and said they had plenty of people wanting to pay in cash: "It's perfectly fine for us. We encourage it."

There are concerns that not being able to pay in cash will affect vulnerable people.

A Treasury Committee report this week stopped short of recommending a change in the law to force businesses to accept cash, but said the government had to improve its monitoring of the issue.

Mr Buechel runs the Nest coffee shop in Chippenham, as well as a tyre business in nearby Melksham: "Cash is actually better because there is no transactional fee. On card you have to pay a processing fee and you have to wait."

"I think it's good for society with cash. There is a huge demand for it."

One issue for small businesses, however, is having to deposit the cash at a bank, when many branches are disappearing from towns.

Becky Lyons owns the Pawesome Pet Shop and said card use could vary depending on the time of the month, but generally paying by card was most popular.

However, she said people were noticing that you need cash for when electronics go down.

"I'll accept any legal tender – I'm not going to tell people how to pay for their goods," she added.

Richard Tidmarsh runs a recruitment agency and dog-walking business – he said the use of cash was "very minimal" and mostly for the dog walking.

"We've got systems in place that can cover both. It will always be useful."

"Without [Jeremy] Clarkson, without [Richard] Hammond, without [James] May, there is a good chance I would not be talking now."

Andrew Hood, from North Devon, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2021 after watching an episode of the television series The Grand Tour, which caused him to get checked for the disease.

He completed a 34-mile (55km) ultra-marathon between Oxford railway station and Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm on Saturday to show his appreciation to the presenter and to raise awareness.

"Clarkson prompted me [to get checked], so I feel it is only right I pay that forward," said Mr Hood.

In the episode that caused the ultra-marathon runner to get himself checked, the motoring trio "had a little joke" about "getting up in the middle of the night and needing to go to [the toilet]".

He said it was these jokes that made him begin to think about prostate and testicular cancers.

It was then in the shower when he began to think more about testicular cancer that he noticed one of his testicles had "shrunk".

"One of mine had shrunk to the size of a marble and had gone rock solid," he said.

Mr Hood added: "It typically affects 15-year-olds up to those in their late 40s. The average age of diagnosis is about 34 – I was 48.

"I've had a very good friend who is 69 and was diagnosed last year."

Discussing his run, Mr Hood said: "I ran to the Farmer's Dog, which is [Clarkson's] pub, first of all.

"That was about the halfway mark of about 17 miles [27.5km] and I had the most amazing welcome and reception.

"When I arrived at Diddly Squat, it was a very hot day… and I arrived there to a really lovely reception – I got cheered in and I got rounds of applause.

"I knew I would find it emotional and I did – I cried."

Clarkson was unable to greet Mr Hood at the finish line due to commitments outside the UK, but the Devon man wrote a letter to the presenter in which he thanked him for saving his life.

He wrote: "Thank you will never be enough.

"You have ensured my children still have a father and you have ensured my wife still has someone who won't empty the dishwasher."