Gwyn Morley, a resident of Charlestown in Cornwall, was left shocked when he received a message from the NHS indicating that he may have cancer. The 72-year-old man was informed by the Urology department at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske that he was an “urgent cancer suspect referral”. Despite the alarming message, Morley’s wife, Janet, reassured him that it was likely a mistake as he had not undergone any recent blood tests.
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust acknowledged that a “small number” of patients, including Mr. Morley, had received an incorrect text message due to a flaw in their patient messaging system. The message stated that the recipients had been referred urgently to Urology as suspected cancer cases. The Trust’s spokesperson expressed regret over the incident and affirmed that measures had been put in place to prevent similar errors in the future.
Following the erroneous communication, Mr. Morley received an apology from the hospital. However, both he and his wife found the message to be “ridiculous”. Morley expressed concern that other individuals who received the message might be distressed and confused about the next steps to take. The hospital is working to personally contact all affected patients to provide reassurance and address any concerns they may have regarding the mistake.
In light of the situation, Mr. Morley emphasized the need for improved communication practices to avoid unnecessary anxiety among patients. While he acknowledged the hospital’s apology, he hopes that steps will be taken to prevent such distressing incidents from occurring in the future. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate and reliable communication in healthcare settings to ensure patient well-being and peace of mind
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