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Women recalled for cancer checks Women recalled for cancer checks
(30 minutes later)
Nearly 200 women who were checked for breast cancer in the west of Scotland have been called for re-examination. Nearly 200 women who were being treated for suspected breast cancer have been called for re-examination.
The decision came after an urgent review was ordered into the clinic where they were screened. The decision came after it emerged the women did not receive the required standard of breast examination at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, in Greenock.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde announced that it has ordered a full review of breast services at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, in Greenock. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde announced that it has ordered a full review of breast services at the hospital.
There have been concerns about the assessment and diagnosis of possible breast cancer symptoms. The health board said that it has been attempting to contact all of the women involved for new appointments.
So far, 133 of the 198 women affected have been reached.
A helpline for any patient who attended the breast clinic at Inverclyde Royal Hospital has been set up.
This must be a desperately worrying time for the women affected and for their families Duncan McNeil MSP
The women have been recalled because they did not receive the required mammography or ultrasound and biopsy in addition to the standard clinical breast examination.The women have been recalled because they did not receive the required mammography or ultrasound and biopsy in addition to the standard clinical breast examination.
The health board identified the 198 women after examining medical records of 1,600 patients going back 18 months.The health board identified the 198 women after examining medical records of 1,600 patients going back 18 months.
'Cancer risk'
All of the women affected have been contacted in the past 24 hours, the health board said, while a helpline for any patient who attended the breast clinic at Inverclyde Royal Hospital has also been set up.
Associate medical director of surgery and anaesthesia, Professor Tim Cooke, will head an urgent review of the care provided to patients within the clinics.Associate medical director of surgery and anaesthesia, Professor Tim Cooke, will head an urgent review of the care provided to patients within the clinics.
Prof Cooke said: "The vast majority of women attending a breast clinic need no more than a clinical examination to determine they have no cancer risk.Prof Cooke said: "The vast majority of women attending a breast clinic need no more than a clinical examination to determine they have no cancer risk.
"For other women, the standard assessment of breast care symptoms includes clinical examination, mammography or ultrasound and biopsy."For other women, the standard assessment of breast care symptoms includes clinical examination, mammography or ultrasound and biopsy.
"From the review of cases at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, a number of patients who fall into this category appear not to have received this standard assessment.""From the review of cases at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, a number of patients who fall into this category appear not to have received this standard assessment."
Tom Divers, chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said differences in the standards between Inverclyde and other breast clinics in the area first emerged during an audit of breast cancer care.
Clinical duties
He added: "This highlighted that, when compared to other centres, a lower percentage of patients seen at Inverclyde had diagnosis confirmed before surgical intervention.
"Further interrogation of these results has now identified that some patients did not receive the full range of appropriate tests when being assessed for suspected breast cancer.
"This has prompted us to launch a full review of practices at these clinics."
The clinics were run by Ian Morrice and Eric Taylor. While the review is being carried out, Mr Morrice has withdrawn from the breast service but will continue with other clinical duties at the hospital.
Mr Morrice is scheduled to retire next month while Mr Taylor retired in February this year.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to intervene
No other clinics throughout the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area are affected.
Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, has demanded a full inquiry into the affair by new Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon to prevent anything similar happening in the future.
"This must be a desperately worrying time for the women affected and for their families," he said.
"The first priority must be reassuring every woman involved as quickly as possible and every ounce of capacity in the entire NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area must be focussed on this."
"I also expect her assurance that any solution will be based on improving the quality of services at the IRH, not removing them."
Any patient with concerns can contact the helpline on 08000 858 531.Any patient with concerns can contact the helpline on 08000 858 531.