Why has the NHS recalled 1487 patients?

LAUREN PHILLIPS >

Partner & Head of Clinical Negligence Department

Fri 12 April 2024 Why has the NHS recalled 1487 patients?

NHS England has recently disclosed that there has been a worrying historical oversight concerning women who had previously had above the waist treatment for Hodgkins lymphoma between 1962 and 2003. Following an investigation, it has come to light that approximately 1487 women require immediate inclusion in the very high-risk breast cancer programme as a matter of urgency.

Lauren Phillips, Head of our Medical Negligence Department & Partner emphasises the critical nature of this recall.

Back In 2000, research revealed that women who had received radiotherapy treatment to their chest for Hodgkin lymphoma were at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Three years later, the Chief Medical Officer created a scheme to identify women that were at risk as they would require annual MRI testing. It is noted by NHS England that annual MRIs are not necessary straight after radiotherapy treatment finishes, but rather between 8-15 years after treatment because the increased risk of breast cancer does not present until around 10 years after treatment.

The NHS Breast Screening Programme established a pathway for women at very high risk of breast cancer and invites women annually for testing. However, a recent audit by the Breast Screening After Radiotherapy Dataset Group (BARD) identified that some women in this group have not been referred to the programme for annual scans as they should have been.

Having investigated, NHS England have become aware that as many as 1,487 women in England need to be added to the very high-risk breast screening programme as soon as possible.

Lauren said: “This is a worrying development and highlights the importance of the NHS having robust and effective recall and administrative procedures in place. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident and at Taylor Rose we have been involved in other cases where recall and other administrative systems have failed and consequently patients’ have suffered avoidable harm. It demonstrates that administrative systems can be just as important as the clinical treatment the NHS provides.

In this instance, we are concerned that for some of the 1,487 women identified, this discovery may have come too late and that very sadly, they have already been diagnosed with breast cancer. Understandably, the question they will be asking themselves is whether earlier screening would have led to earlier diagnosis and a better prognosis?”

The women affected by this recent discovery have been written to but if you fall into this category and you have not received a letter, a designated helpline for women who are affected by the issue has been set up. The helpline number is: 0345 8778 962.

At Taylor Rose MW, our Medical Negligence department have been instructed in several cases where there has been delay in diagnosis of breast cancer and we are concerned that for some women these findings may be too late.

If you have recently been informed that you need to be added to the very high-risk breast screening programme and you would like to discuss whether you may have a medical negligence claim, then please click the “contact us” button above or call our medical negligence team on 020 3540 4444.