bots
29-12-2022, 04:13 PM
A GP surgery accidentally told patients they had aggressive lung cancer instead of wishing them a merry Christmas.
Askern Medical Practice sent the text message to people registered with the surgery in Doncaster on 23 December.
Sarah Hargreaves, who was waiting for medical test results, said she "broke down" when she received the text, only to be later told it was sent in error.
The group which runs the surgery said nobody was available for comment. The centre has almost 8,000 patients.
The first text told recipients they had "aggressive lung cancer with metastases", a type of secondary malignant growth.
It directed patients to fill out a DS1500 form, which allows people with terminal diseases to claim certain benefits.
However, about an hour later people received a second text telling them it was an error and it was meant to wish them a merry Christmas instead.
Ms Hargreaves said after she received the original text while she was out shopping, she "felt sick to my teeth and broke down".
She added: "I had just had a mole removed and was awaiting a result from a biopsy and I had been to hospital as my smear test came back abnormal, so yes, I was very worried."
Despite repeated calls to the surgery, she said she struggled to get through to speak to someone.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/29BC/production/_128148601_gptext-nc.png.webp
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-64116668
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No way that was an accident
Askern Medical Practice sent the text message to people registered with the surgery in Doncaster on 23 December.
Sarah Hargreaves, who was waiting for medical test results, said she "broke down" when she received the text, only to be later told it was sent in error.
The group which runs the surgery said nobody was available for comment. The centre has almost 8,000 patients.
The first text told recipients they had "aggressive lung cancer with metastases", a type of secondary malignant growth.
It directed patients to fill out a DS1500 form, which allows people with terminal diseases to claim certain benefits.
However, about an hour later people received a second text telling them it was an error and it was meant to wish them a merry Christmas instead.
Ms Hargreaves said after she received the original text while she was out shopping, she "felt sick to my teeth and broke down".
She added: "I had just had a mole removed and was awaiting a result from a biopsy and I had been to hospital as my smear test came back abnormal, so yes, I was very worried."
Despite repeated calls to the surgery, she said she struggled to get through to speak to someone.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/29BC/production/_128148601_gptext-nc.png.webp
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-64116668
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No way that was an accident