Monday, July 25, 2011

Doctor who failed to spot breast cancer in 61 women is FINALLY out of a job

A doctor who held onto his £100,000 job despite failing to spot breast cancer in 61 patients over the last decade is finally out of work.

Dr Glenn Anthony Kelly had been suspended on full pay for the last two years from Accrington Victoria Hospital, Lancashire, and is still facing disciplinary action for the blunders.

One victim of the consultant radiologist said he should have 'gone a long time ago' while another said it was a disgrace he had continued being paid his wages.

Two people in the pool of 61 unfortunate patients in his care eventually died of breast cancer, although it is not clear if their fate was a result of Dr Kelly's errors.

Dr Kelly still faces a charge of 'deficient professional performance' before a General Medical Council (GMC) panel and could be struck off the medical register.

A damning report slammed the blunders Dr Kelly made while working as a consultant radiologist and director of East Lancashire Hospital's breast screening unit at Accrington Victoria Hospital.

But hospital bosses could not consider dismissing him until a General Medical Council investigation was completed, because of the terms of his contract, drawn up in line with Department of Health guidelines.

Grandmother-of-two Glenys Thompson, 59, was wrongly given the all-clear.

Her case was the first in which errors were uncovered and sparked the re-checking of 335 mammograms and the re-screening of 85 women.

Mrs Thompson, of Barnoldswick, said: 'I think he should have gone a long time ago. 'He didn't even have the courtesy to speak to us or make a public apology, but I'm glad he has gone for the sake of future people. Now he should be struck off.'

A former machinist, Mrs Thompson had to give up her job. She had radiotherapy and an operation to have a small lump removed, which prevented the cancer spreading, but needed further surgery to correct the damage caused to her breast by radiation.

She said: 'I said all along a man in his position with a job like that shouldn't make one mistake, let alone lots of them.


'He should have made sure his training was up to date and if he didn't get that training, he should have asked again.'

Another victim, Letitia Newhouse, 53, a mum-of-two from Sawley, had to undergo a mastectomy and was hospitalised during gruelling chemotherapy.

She received what she described as an 'insulting' £5,000 in compensation.

She said: 'You would have thought his conscience would have done something to him and he would have quit before now, but if you were on £100,000 a year would you quit?

'I can't understand why the hearing has been put off and why it hasn't been rescheduled and nobody will tell us why.

'I would like this GMC hearing to be over and done with. Then all us ladies can get on with our lives.'

An original internal investigation found that Dr Kelly had missed breast cancer in 20 patients between 2006 and 2008.

However, an independent inquiry found that the actual number of patients affected was 61, going back to the year 2000.

The report, published in February, said Dr Kelly was not 'sufficiently competent' to perform biopsies using ultrasound, and instead relied on outdated techniques.

In his 2005 appraisal he asked for training so he could carry out ultrasound biopsies, but this request was not fulfilled.

Dr Kelly was suspended by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in April 2009.

As a consultant with 18 years experience, he was still being paid at least £94,911 a year while he was excluded from duty.

Dr Kelly was set to face a GMC panel last month but the hearing was postponed. The governing body said it could not say why the hearing had been postponed, nor confirm when it would be rescheduled.

The GMC investigation into Dr Kelly has been underway since November 2009, when an Interim Orders Panel imposed 10 conditions on his registration.

The order was renewed this year, and Dr Kelly cannot carry out any breast assessment work until May 2012.

Ian Brandwood, director of human resources for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'The consultant has not carried out any clinical work since April 2009, and his employment with the trust ceased with effect from May 30, 2011.

'As such, the trust cannot comment on matters between the consultant and the GMC.'

Dr Kelly was unavailable for comment.

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