Cancer survivor hits out over long wait for results

Perth woman was told delay caused by shortage of radiographers

A breast cancer survivor has hit out at NHS Tayside over stress caused by the “unacceptable” six-week wait for mammogram results due to a lack of radiographers.

The survivor from Perth, who wished to remain anonymous, was given the all clear by doctors at Ninewells Hospital two years ago but undergoes annual mammogram tests to make sure the cancer has not returned.

Initially the patient was told the results would be given in three weeks but that waiting period doubled to six weeks last year and this year.

The patient said: “This is a long, long time. The cancer can come back and spread.

“It’s unacceptable and it’s dangerous. “Every day I wake up and I’m very worried. It’s extremely stressful and I’m worried for all the other women who are the same.”

The survivor claimed she was told last year her results would be available after three weeks but five weeks later she had to contact the hospital herself as she had still not received them.

She said: “I rang them and was told they had a shortage of radiographers.

“This year I was told it will take six weeks. People need to be made aware. It could cost someone their life.”

A breast cancer charity said delays in returning results could seriously impact a patient’s quality of life.

Ashleigh Simpson, policy and campaigns manager (Scotland) at Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now, said: “For so many women undergoing follow-up scans after their breast cancer treatment, the wait for results can be extremely distressing and we need to do everything we can to minimise this time of uncertainty.”

NHS Tayside admitted there is a shortage of radiologists but said they were taking steps to reduce the waiting times.

A spokesman for NHS Tayside said: “There is a national shortage of radiologists which unfortunately makes our waiting times longer than we would like.

“However, we have recruited a new breast radiologist who will be starting work in NHS Tayside in August.

“We are also looking at redesigning how the team works across Tayside to reduce waiting times for our patients.”

Breast Cancer Care’s free helpline can be contacted on 0808 800 6000.

The patient was given the all clear at Ninewells Hospital two years ago but still undergoes mammogram tests.