Breast screening scandal: Up to 270 women have lost lives in ‘colossal’ NHS failure

Mr Hunt apologised unreservedly as he revealed a computer failure meant that women who had just turned 70 were not sent an invitation for a breast scan as they should have been.

An independent review has now been launched into the “serious failure” of the programme, run by Public Health England (PHE).

Mr Hunt yesterday explained that an IT glitch dating back to 2009 meant 450,000 women aged between 68 and 71 had not received invitations for a final scan.

The Government knew of the crisis in January but waited four months before telling Parliament.

The massive IT error sparked uproar as it became clear that for many women, their cancer could have been picked up by screening.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, said: “We are deeply saddened and extremely concerned to hear so many women have been let down by such a colossal systematic failure.

“It is beyond belief this mistake has been sustained for almost a decade and we need to know why it has been allowed to happen.”

Mr Hunt, who has faced calls to quit over his leadership of the NHS, yesterday issued a grovelling apology in the Commons.

He revealed that a computer algorithm failure meant women who had just turned 70 were not sent an invitation for a breast scan as they should have been.

Between 135 and 270 women may have had their “lives shortened” as a result of errors, he said.

All those affected will receive a letter by the end of May with those under 75 offered a catch-up mammogram within six months.

It is likely the Government will pay compensation to those affected and their families.

The review, expected to report back in six months, will be chaired by Lynda Thomas, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, and oncologist Professor Martin Gore.

Ms Thomas said: “This will undoubtedly create a great deal of concern and anxiety.

“The priority must be for women who have missed screening to get immediate support and, if appropriate, treatment.

“It’s critical we understand what happened and make sure this situation never happens again.”

The issue was first brought to the attention of the Department of Health and Social Care in January, but was thought to pose a “limited” risk.

PHE escalated it to ministers in March following an urgent review with the Government told the error should “not be made public to ensure existing screening services were not overwhelmed”.

All women between the ages of 50 and 70 are automatically invited for breast cancer screening every three years.

Of those who missed invitations, 309,000 are estimated to still be alive and in their 70s.

Mr Hunt added: “Irrespective of when the incident started, the fact is that for many years, this oversight of our screening programme has not been good enough.

“Many families will be deeply disturbed by these revelations, not least because there will be some people who receive a letter having had a recent diagnosis of cancer. We must also recognise there may be some who receive a letter having had a terminal diagnosis.

“For them, it is incredibly upsetting to know that you did not receive an invitation for screening at the correct time and totally devastating to hear you may have lost, or be about to lose a loved one, because of administrative incompetence. So on behalf of the Government, Public Health England and the NHS, I apologise wholeheartedly for the suffering caused.”

Cancer Research UK urged women who notice any changes in their breast to see a GP straight away.

And medical negligence solicitor Olivia Mitchison, of Bolt Burdon Kemp, warned the error could lead to many medical negligence claims, costing the NHS “thousands in compensation”.

She said: “Women have been let down and put at risk because of this administrative error and should seek independent legal advice.”