Lab Scientist Suspended

A lab scientist has been suspended from his duties and 100 people who had a cancer screening at a Hereford Hospital have been recalled following an announcement by the Hereford Hospital NHS Trust that 40 of the 102 patients' prognoses had been worse than they had been told.

In total 70 patients' treatments have been changed, however the hospital have said that no lives are threatened by misdiagnosis.

The member of staff was reported to management by his colleagues.

Following these reports 5,404 samples, from 4,654 patients, which were studied between May 2006 and August 2007, were reviewed.

The consultant has been suspended on full pay.

Tim Deeming, a clinical negligence lawyer at law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "The importance of the very highest levels of trust in research such as this is obvious. The NHS trust must do all that they can to ensure that all those affected are contacted immediately and that any delay in diagnosis of potentially life threatening illness is given the highest of priorities."