Hundreds miss cancer check
A Wearside MP has urged the Government to make sure a computer failure which left more than 12,000 women across the North East unchecked for the signs of breast cancer will never happen again.
As a result of the IT issue, women aged between 68 and 71 were not invited to their finalbreastscreeningbetween 2009 and May this year. This meantwomenwerenotcalled for a final mammogram before they turned 70, with all thosenotbeenscreenedafter their 68th birthday to now be offered a scan.
InSunderland,theCentral constituency saw 135 women affected, in Washington and Sunderland West the figure was 110, while in Houghton and Sunderland South, the numberwas128.InEasington, the number was 274.
A total of 174,000 have been affected across England, with 75 women estimated to have died as of breast cancer unnecessarily.
Sunderland Central MP, Julie Elliott said: “New figures showing that over 100 women in my constituency were not called for routine breast cancer screening appointments are shocking.
“It’s not right that women have missed out on this essential service due to a computer error and I’m really concerned women may have diedofbreastcancerunnecessarily.TheGovernmentneeds to urgently review this error, and ensure that those missed are invited for a scan.”
Sharon Hodgson, who represents Washington and Sunderland West, added: “I now believe that the Department for Health should expand the capacity of the screening programme, and commit to employing more staff in order to ensure that allwomenareseeninatimely manner.Thisisamistakethat must never happen again.
“If anyone in my constituency has concerns then I would urge them to get in touch with me so that I can make the necessary representations.”
Grahame Morris MP, EasingtonMPandvice-chairman oftheAllPartyParliamentary Group for Radiography, said: “The Government have been slow to react, and I support calls by charities like Breast Cancer Now calling for more specialist staff in radiology and mammography so that all women who need appointments can get them as a matter of urgency.”
Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, said: “Our priority throughout has been the wellbeing of affected women and giving them the support they need. I would like to reiterate our heartfelt and unreserved apology that this has happened.
“We welcome the terms of reference of the independent review and we will work fully with them to ensure it cannot happen again.”