Recalled women have breast cancer

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Four women who were recalled to a breast cancer clinic amid concerns over the quality of its screening have now been diagnosed with the disease.

The women were among 198 recalled last month after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said they had not received the full range of cancer checks.

They had all been patients at a clinic at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

It is unclear if the cancers diagnosed during the review could have been detected at the original appointments.

At the time of the recall, the health board said that some patients examined by surgeons Eric Taylor and Ian Morrice at Inverclyde Royal, in Greenock, had not been given all of the standard tests.

Some of the practices used by the surgeons was also said to have been years out of date.

It is unclear if any of the new cancers diagnosed at the review clinic would have been detectable at the first appointment Health Board Spokeswoman

A health board spokeswoman said that all but five of the 198 women who were recalled from the 1,600 cases it had examined had not been contacted.

The spokeswoman added: "From this, there are now four women in various stages of assessment and treatment for newly confirmed breast cancers.

"It is unclear if any of the new cancers diagnosed at the review clinic would have been detectable at the first appointment, which were any time between eight months and 18 months ago.

"These findings, whilst in keeping with the numbers of new cancer cases anticipated at the outset of the review, are obviously very distressing for the individuals concerned and we continue to provide support to their patients and families."

She said that efforts were being made to contact the five other patients who have moved away from the area and had not yet registered with GP practices.

The women were recalled because they did not receive the required mammography or ultrasound and biopsy in addition to the standard clinical breast examination.

The health board is carrying out a full review of the care provided to patients within its clinics which is being led by Professor Tim Cooke, associate medical director of surgery and anaesthesia.