Three patients died after doctor failed to ensure bowel test follow-up treatment

Three patients have died after being given a bowel test by a doctor who failed to ensure treatment needed was carried out, a health board has said.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said three more patients suffered harm.

The six patients were identified in a clinical review the health board carried out of 2,700 people the consultant carried out a colonoscopy on between 2020 and 2022.

The consultant, who has not been named, was suspended in November 2022 and has since left the health board.

NHSGGC deputy medical director Professor Colin McKay said: “We would like to offer our sincere apologies to patients who were not followed up appropriately and our condolences to the families of those patients who have died."

“Our investigations found that the doctor did not consistently follow up the results of investigations that had been completed or requested and therefore missed the opportunity for patients to be treated, including a number of patients who went on to develop malignancy."

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Source: The Independent, 11 October 2023