MONDAY, 1 APRIL, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

NHS Tayside makes changes to breast cancer chemotherapy treatment

NHS Tayside is making changes to its breast cancer chemotherapy treatment following the publication of a Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) report which looked at parts of the breast cancer service in Tayside.

The report shows that NHS Tayside practice relating to chemotherapy in breast cancer is different to the rest of Scotland. HIS made a number of recommendations about ways to improve practice and processes. NHS Tayside has accepted all of these and is now developing an action plan to progress these with urgency.

The key change is that NHS Tayside will be adjusting its breast cancer chemotherapy dose regime to make sure patients throughout Scotland are offered the same.

An expert panel has reviewed the HIS report to understand any potential impact on Tayside patients arising from the different approach to chemotherapy treatment. The panel made it clear to NHS Tayside that the risk of any negative impact on the health of anyone treated for breast cancer from December 1 2016 was very small.

The background to today’s report is that in December 2016, following an internal review of patients, NHS Tayside oncologists (cancer doctors) made changes to the chemotherapy dose given to some breast cancer patients. This meant that the dose some patients received was different to the dose which might have been prescribed in other hospitals in the rest of Scotland.

The oncologists made a decision based on this review to reduce the dose of chemotherapy with the sole aim of reducing some of the worst side effects. The expert panel has stated that the oncologists took the decision in the best interests of patients.

NHS Tayside has now written to all affected patients who received chemotherapy as part of their breast cancer care from 1 December 2016 when the change was made, offering them a clinic appointment with an oncologist.

Acting Medical Director Professor Peter Stonebridge said, “We understand that the HIS Report published today may cause patients some concern and even distress and we are very sorry for that.

“We have written to all patients who received chemotherapy as part of their breast cancer care from 1 December 2016 and we have offered them an appointment with an oncologist for further discussion about their treatment.

“We have taken assurance from the expert panel who has said that the risk of any negative impact to patients arising from the change in chemotherapy was very small. However,

patient safety is always our number one priority and that is why we have taken action to rapidly change our approach to breast cancer chemotherapy, ensuring it is in line with practice across the rest of Scotland.

“We are also commissioning the Royal College of Physicians (London) to support us going forward.

“We will continue to working closely with the Scottish Government to ensure we do everything we can to provide a high-quality breast cancer service in Tayside.”

• An information line has been set up with NHS Inform on 08000 858 531 for advice and information. This line is open from 8am to 10pm, Monday to Friday and will remain open until 8th April 2019. After this date, you can contact the NHS Tayside Complaints and Feedback team on 0800 027 5507. You can also visit www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk and follow the link on the front page.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Following a review of records, 304 patients had chemotherapy for breast cancer in NHS Tayside from December 1 2016 up to the present.

• All identified patients are being contacted by letter to offer an appointment with an oncologist

• NHS Tayside is working closely with Scottish Government, the North Cancer Alliance (formerly NOSCAN) and HIS to progress all the recommendations, which include strengthening governance across the North Cancer Alliance (formerly NOSCAN), improving processes around patient consent for chemotherapy and improving multi-professional team working across the oncology department.

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138