UK CANCER SCANDAL: HEALTH CHIEFS ALREADY KNEW
UK HEALTH officials were warned of errors in a breast cancer screening programme more than a year ago but failed to act, it emerged last night.
Public Health England conceded that it had been made aware of problems with the scheme as far back as March 2017.
The body was alerted by two health trusts which reported that letters were not going out to some women aged 68 to 71.
PHE instructed the private firm running the programme’s IT system to look into the matter – but the company said it was only a ‘local issue’. As a result, PHE decided not to pursue it. The admission came a day after the body insisted it had become aware of the errors in January this year.
British Ministers were not told until March and the public was informed only this week. Some 450,000 women have not been invited to crucial mammograms as a result of the IT glitches – and as many as 270 women are feared to have died.
The fact PHE was warned of problems 14 months ago will raise further questions over the competency of the body and its chief executive Duncan Selbie.
Lee Towsey believes his mother, who died from breast cancer aged 70, was a victim of the scandal. He said: ‘It’s outrageous and it’s disgusting. Someone has to be held responsible for this error.’
Meanwhile more details on the scandal have emerged: ÷A Texan firm with an annual turnover of $543million, based in Dallas, held the contract to run the scheme’s software;
A helpline for women and families affected had 8,000 calls in its first day;
Lawyers warned the NHS faces a multimillion-pound compensation bill;
Doctors warned breast cancer screening units would have to work evenings and weekends to clear the backlog;
Health officials blamed each other and refused to accept responsibility.
The NHS’s breast cancer screening is meant to be offered to all women aged 50-70, every three years. But on Wednesday, British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed up to 450,000 women had not been invited to the checks between 2009 and 2018.
This is thought to have been caused by an IT fault which meant letters did not go out to those in the 68-71 age group.
Bereaved relatives and women who have had mastectomies are calling for the officials responsible to be held to account.
Widower George Baczkowski, whose wife Ann died from breast cancer after not being invited to checks, said: ‘I don’t blame anyone for her death but I do want answers and accountability.’ The 73-yearold from Swardeston, near Norwich, said he was asking: ‘Could she still be with us?’
Helen Jarvis, 72, who had a mastectomy after missed scans meant her cancer was picked up late, said: ‘Somebody needs to fall on their sword.’
Mr Hunt launched an inquiry to establish what went wrong and who is accountable, due to report back in six months.
A PHE spokesman yesterday confirmed it was warned of issues with the scheme 14 months ago.
Two trusts in London and the English midlands expressed concerns that women aged 68-71 were not receiving letters.
When asked to investigate, computer firm Hitachi Consulting reported back that it was only a ‘local issue’.
Concerns were raised again in December 2017 by academics carrying out research into extending the scheme.
PHE realised it was a nationwide problem in January and by March became aware it had affected hundreds of thousands. Yesterday Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said the delay in telling the public was necessary to ensure ‘correct systems were in place’, including a helpline and ensuring clinics can cope with all the women coming in for checks.
He refused to say whether Mrs May had full confidence in PHE.
PHE has said it cannot be held fully accountable as it was set up in 2013.
Before then the screening was overseen by the UK Department of Health and local health trusts.
‘Someone needs to fall on their sword’