BLOG: Rachel Donovan on the importance of getting cancer screening right

When I was driving home from work recently I heard on the news that Gildersome Health Centre in Morley, Leeds, has recalled 1,000 women after they discovered almost 1,000 cervical smear tests carried out at the centre may have been faulty.

NHS chiefs in Leeds have ordered the recall of 968 women for re-testing after the checks revealed a possible problem dating back nearly 20 years.

An investigation has now been launched, but it is believed it could affect most of the smear tests carried out in the health centre since 1988.

It has been confirmed that mistakes in laboratory testing of samples have been ruled out, which could mean the problem was when the smears were taken.

I have undertaken cancer cases like this before - such as where my client has gone to get the correct test but the pathologist or doctor has misread the results and in turn given the patient the all clear. This can lead to disastrous consequences and ultimately death leaving in my case a husband without his wife, children without their mother and grandchildren without their grandmother.

This deeply concerns me and makes me question who is undertaking these tests and what training and supervision they have.

Less than 1% of medical incidents are estimated to be initiated as claims and therefore anyone who thinks limiting liability will reduce healthcare costs is fooling themselves.

It is preventable medical injuries such as those which may have happened at Gildersome and the claims I mention above - not patient compensation - that is ringing up the health care costs and in turn affecting our NHS.

If anyone has any queries in relation to the above please do not hesitate to contact me at John Pickerings on 0151 227 1214 or email me at don@johnpickering.co.uk