Cancer patients’ complaint turned down

GP practice in NHS Ayrshire and Arran has successfully defended claims they gave a woman ‘false reassurance’ over a lump on her breast which turned out to be cancerous.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) concluded that the patient was given “appropriate examinations” and an “appropriate referral” to hospital following an investigation into the case.

Details of the GP practice in Ayrshire and Arran, at the centre of the complaint, have not been released.

In their investigation the SPSO said: “We took independent advice from a GP.

“We found that the GPs involved carried out appropriate examinations and that it was appropriate to refer C to the hospital specialists for further examination.”

The complaint was not upheld.