- 250 patients have been called back to Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset
- Junior doctor who failed to meet hospital’s screening standards no longer works at the hospital
By
Padraic Flanagan
08:47 EST, 4 May 2013
|
19:58 EST, 4 May 2013
Hundreds of women are being recalled for breast cancer checks amid fears that a bungling junior hospital doctor mistakenly gave them the all-clear.
Letters were last week sent to 272 patients who underwent routine breast screening over 18 months from January 2011.
The women, who were originally told follow-ups were not required, have been asked to return to The Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset for further checks after a male junior doctor there failed to carry out correct procedures at their screening sessions.
Royal Bournemouth Hospital, where around 250 women attended breast screenings that may not have been carried out properly. Consultants at the Dorset hospital raised concerns over a junior doctor
The unnamed medic is now under
investigation over his alleged lapse following complaints about his
performance at the clinic up to July 2012.
Consultants who run the breast clinic
raised the alarm as they were unhappy with the way the doctor conducted
his initial assessment of some of the patients.
Hospital bosses said his work
‘potentially did not meet our usual high standards’ and stressed that
the recall was ‘precautionary’.
A spokeswoman for The Royal Bournemouth declined to name the junior doctor, but said he was no longer working at the hospital.
‘We have no evidence of any harm to
the patients seen by this junior doctor,’ she said. ‘However, as a
precaution, we are bringing some patients back for an assessment by a
consultant. At this stage, we have invited those patients who were only
seen by this junior doctor.’
Around 250 patients were screened for breast cancer have been recalled for another assessment
The doctor is being investigated by
the General Medical Council over the incident, the spokeswoman added.
The hospital has also asked the Royal College of Surgeons to assist in a
review.
Tony Skene, consultant breast surgeon
at The Royal Bournemouth, said: ‘Although we have found no evidence of
any harm, the safety of our patients is our number one priority.
‘We do, however, realise that for
those patients who we do recall, this may lead to additional anxiety and
we apologise for the distress that this may cause.
‘The Trust is being proactive with
this recall, which is about clinical standards. There are no other
concerns. I want to assure all the patients we contact that they will be
offered a prompt appointment, with access to a support telephone line
in the interim should they need it.’
Emma Pennery, clinical director of
support charity Breast Cancer Care, said: ‘While there is currently no
evidence of any misdiagnosis in this instance, a recall to a breast
clinic can inevitably cause a great deal of anxiety for both patients
and their families. We would hope that in such a rare instance, the
hospital will see these patients as quickly as possible.’
Paula Shobbrook, The Royal
Bournemouth Hospital’s director of nursing, said extra clinics were
being arranged so that women affected could be seen as soon as possible.
A telephone hotline is also available for anxious patients seeking
support. ‘We’re inviting them back to reassure them and so that they can
see one of our consultants,’ she said.
‘We have been reviewing the records carefully and have sent the patients a letter.
‘We’ve also put on additional clinics so that patients can come back in.’
The NHS Breast Screening Programme is
estimated to save 1,400 lives a year in England alone. One in eight
women will develop breast cancer at some stage in their life. Eighty per
cent of breast cancers occur in women over 50.
Women aged between 50 and 70 are
invited for checks every three years. In some areas, this is being
extended to include those between 47 and 73. Those over 70 can ask to be
screened.
Sally Greenbrook of the charity
Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: ‘Any variation from the usual high
standards of breast screening is extremely worrying. We are pleased to
see that the hospital is acting with urgency in reassuring those
affected and ensuring that this does not happen again.
‘We hope it doesn’t put women off
attending their screening appointment, as early detection offers the
best chance of a successful outcome.’
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“Proper procedures�
Old Harrovian
,
Toronto,
04/5/2013 23:51
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Was this doctor British or foreign? Let’s just say, when they don’t say anything – it’s a foreign doctor!
K Sera
,
London,
04/5/2013 23:26
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The NHS promise female nurses only when you have a mammogram. But if you have to have further treatment you have to put up with MALE doctors – and incompetent junior ones at that.
Jane
,
Darlington,
04/5/2013 21:02
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Wherever he is working he should be fired
mrs
,
York,
04/5/2013 20:43
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Why is this happening putting lives at risk! The government again on cut backs!! Disgusting
anne
,
st Anne’s,
04/5/2013 20:14
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Surely if a junior doctor was doing breast cancer assessments he must have been supervised by a Consultant? When I was referred to a clinic all new patients were seen as a matter of protocol by a Consultant breast surgeon. I only saw a less senior member of staff when I was having review appointments prior to my discharge at the end of 5 years remission – and he certainly was not at the level of a junior doctor.
elgar61
,
Fife, United Kingdom,
04/5/2013 19:51
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I was misdiagnosed by the laboratory and again by the doctor at a hospital I shall not name. Was all the other patients slides that this pathologist re examined NO. We’re all the patients seem by the doctor who made mistake after mistake re-called NO. Idiots total idiots
Susy963
,
England,
04/5/2013 19:01
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I was misdiagnosed by the laboratory and again by the doctor at a hospital I shall not name. Was all the other patients slides that this pathologist re examined NO. We’re all the patients seem by the doctor who made mistake after mistake re-called NO. Idiots total idiots
Susy963
,
England,
04/5/2013 19:01
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Name the doctor – is he still working, are people still at risk
lancashire Red
,
The Republic of Lancashire, United Kingdom,
04/5/2013 18:40
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..local people raised ALL the money for their scanning equipment, yet its ‘private patients only after 5pm’,so if you’re admitted as an emergency to a and e and need a scan after 5pm , they tell you to come back for an appointment!!!!
NHS Nightmare
,
Huddersfield, United Kingdom,
04/5/2013 17:55
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