We can only hope for a good outcome to this dire situation, financially, medically and preferably both. Almost exactly the same thing happened last year in a small (squadron sized) firm in the South West. Employee had blinding headaches and was told 3 months wait for a scan; workmates put in £30 each = scan within 2 days. Told he had 14 days to live (brain tumour), emergency operation, fully cured and recovered. Here is where it goes differently! The firm's boss refunded all the employees the money they had put in to help their colleague! This man's squadron is working to help him, what are the NHS and the SMO doing? Obviously no chance of the squadron's collection getting refunded bit it sounds shameful, as reported so far.