Call for probe into Tayside’s cancer crisis

NICOLA Sturgeon is under pressure to launch an independent inquiry into a breast cancer treatment scandal in Tayside, as newly uncovered documents reveal a litany of warnings were “overlooked” by health chiefs.

Leading members of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on cancer said a government probe is needed to “rebuild public trust and secure the future of lifesaving breast cancer care” in the region.

SNP ministers have previously rejected multiple requests from patients, doctors and local politicians for an independent investigation.

The latest calls come a day after we revealed NHS Tayside non-executive board member Dr Norman Pratt accused senior management last year of being “complicit in the cover-up of a major clinical service scandal”.

The doctor – chairman of the Tayside area clinical forum – claims the board’s “own medical management” privately accepts there is no clinical evidence to back up claims in the reports that patients were put at 1% to 2% increased risk of seeing their cancer return.

We can reveal health chiefs and government officials were given multiple warnings that reviews into the scandal were “deeply flawed” and would lead to the breast oncology service collapsing.

Months later, the department is in turmoil and being supported by other health boards as the final member of a medical team who accused bosses of throwing them “under the bus” prepares to take early retirement next month.

Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, co-convener of Holyrood’s cross-party cancer group, called for a “full independent investigation into this scandal”.

“This scandal has been seriously damaging to patient trust and the future of breast cancer services in NHS Tayside,” she said.

Scottish Conservative MSP Miles Briggs, the group’s co-convener, said government ministers and health bosses had effectively “closed ranks” around the crisis and left the doctors feeling “completely hung out to dry”.

Asked about the concerns raised by Dr Pratt during First Minister’s Questions yesterday, the first minister said she expects NHS Tayside to “properly investigate”.

Ms Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government has been advised that the board has thoroughly investigated the matters raised.”

She added the health board has provided a “comprehensive timeline of correspondence and meetings” showing issues relating to the breast cancer team were openly discussed – including ones Dr Pratt “actively contributed to”.

The Scottish Government declined to comment further.