NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has acknowledged that three patients died after not receiving appropriate follow-up care after having a colonoscopy. Six patients suffered harm between 2020 and 2022 when they were not given adequate care following the procedure. The male consultant responsible was suspended, though he subsequently resigned before disciplinary proceedings began. The health board contacted all affected patients and apologised for the harm they suffered.
Most of the colonoscopies performed by the doctor involved patients in a bowel cancer screening programme, according to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Upon review, the doctor was found to have neglected to follow up on investigation results consistently, resulting in some patients missing out on treatment opportunities. Some of these individuals went on to develop malignancy.
Between January 2020 and November 2022, the health board reviewed 2,700 patients who had colonoscopies, and it discovered that 100 patients treated by the consultant were overdue for a follow-up colonoscopy. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde stated that it would not name the consultant to prevent a potential breach of data protection responsibilities.
The board formally disclosed the issues to the General Medical Council, the regulator, upon identifying them initially. Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie expressed concern over the situation and criticised the lack of transparency, stating that it was unacceptable for the problem to remain hidden for three years
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