Members of Islington Bangladesh Association at the Barnsbury Community Centre meeting

A FORMER chairman of Islington Bangladesh Association has told how his life was saved by chance after a routine health check-up.

Iftekhar Hussain Choudhury told the IBC’s annual general meeting earlier this month how his bowel cancer was flagged after he booked an appointment with his GP over weight loss.

Mr Hussain Choudhury said: “I was losing weight and they advised me [at the meeting] to go to my doctor, for my health and wellness, to get a check-up. Straight away, I got an appointment for an endoscopy and a colonoscopy. During the colonoscopy they found my bowel cancer. I had surgery to remove it, and since then, I am cancer free.”

But the meeting, held in the Barnsbury Community Centre, heard concerns from members that language barriers, social isolation and long waiting lists are worsening access to healthcare for the Bangladeshi community.

The IBA’s chairman, Asad Choudhury, had said that changes to GP appointment booking systems brought in during Covid had made it difficult for people with a language barrier, especially the elderly.

He said: “We are not sure that we will be able to heat our homes and feed our children this winter. This means members of our community will face more social isolation issues, mental health issues, and obesity issues. This is why we are developing partnerships and bringing resources and expertise together to help our community.”

UCLH public outreach chief, Patience Renias-Zuva, warned a blanket approach to healthcare often leaves certain community groups out, adding: “Care is delivered to suit a very particular group of people, and other people might not be given the care they need.”