Real-life trauma lost in cancer care scandal

Sir, – As patients who were affected by the choice of NHS Tayside to disregard current clinical management guidelines surrounding chemotherapy doses, we feel that your recent coverage on the plight of the clinicians in question requires response.

This is a complex, multi-faceted issue which does not involve one individual, or one particular decision.

This is an issue of an entire system failing, starting initially with how clinical policy decisions were made, followed through upon, and assessed in the cancer care network.

This is an issue which links across NHS Tayside, regulatory bodies, and the Scottish Government and therefore represents a catastrophic failure of communication.

A crucially distressing aspect of this is that for the families of the deceased, there is a duty to provide solid data that supports the clinical decisions taken in their cases.

It may be that their loved ones need not have suffered the outcomes they did.

Equally, for those amongst us who are suffering, or may suffer in future from a recurrence of disease, there is a considerable burden that must be shouldered given that our treatment could be considered sub-optimal based on current guidelines for dosing. The chain of decision making that took place here was entirely preventable.

Further, several recently commissioned official reports on the matter have resolutely failed to recognise the effect on the patients and families who must live with this, preferring to deal in analysis of team dynamics and policies.

We feel that the existing coverage omits the real-world effects of this on those affected and that much more detail must be added to provide a comprehensive picture.

To that end, our group would be most willing to hold an audience with those that seem to have only a partial view of these events.

Whilst it is inevitable that there will be emotions on both sides, it is imperative that no one loses sight of the serious issues that require urgent, concerted focus.

Improving practice policies by ensuring patients are empowered regarding decisions for their care, alongside rigorous adherence to the guidelines which inform consent, as a baseline, will hopefully ensure events like these do not reoccur.

NHS Tayside Cancer Care Support Group.