Trust to review 'cancer blunders'

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An independent review is to be carried out into cancer tests at a Bristol hospital trust after concerns were raised that patients were misdiagnosed.

It is alleged one woman who was cleared went on to develop terminal breast cancer while others were wrongly told they had a fatal condition.

Concerns were first raised by doctors at North Bristol NHS Trust in 2007.

University Hospitals Bristol Trust, formerly the city's infirmary, has now confirmed it will review 3,500 cases.

Pathologists at the North Bristol Trust (NBT) first raised concerns two years ago about the accuracy of results for patients being tested for skin, respiratory, breast and gynaecological problems at the University Hospitals Bristol (UHB).

It's disappointing that the trust management don't seem to have taken action to investigate the allegations Former cancer sufferer

The BBC has seen a letter written by pathologist from NBT to UHB, alleging that over a two-year period from 2006 they identified a range of diagnostic errors in gynaecological pathology.

In the letter, the pathologist claims some errors would have had serious implications for the patients if not spotted.

The pathologist claims that ater raising this they were accused by doctors from UHB of undermining their authority and raising trivial concerns.

A further letter from another NBT pathologist sent in June 2007 to his medical director highlighted cases where patients had allegedly suffered or died as a result of misdiagnosis over the previous seven years .

Diagnosis 'incorrect'

In one case it is claimed a UHB breast biopsy sample was given the all clear, only for the patient to return to Frenchay Hospital two years later with breast cancer.

Her doctor said she subsequently died without realising the diagnosis had been incorrect.

In other cases the letter alleges patients were wrongly told they had a terminal condition, only for it to be discovered later that they were curable infections.

One former cancer sufferer told BBC News: "The issue about pathology was first mentioned at a council meeting back in 2007 and it's disappointing that the trust management don't seem to have taken action to investigate the allegations."

Now, following advice from the Royal College of Pathologists, UHB has confirmed it will hold an external review into 3,500 cases from 2007.