Bristol trust defends action on review of cancer tests

An independent review of cancer testing at a Bristol hospital will be carried out by a private company that already undertakes testing work on behalf of the organisation, it has emerged.

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust (UHBristol), which runs the Bristol Royal Infirmary and St Michael's, has rejected claims that the involvement of Medical Solutions in the re-testing of 3,500 histopathology samples represents a conflict of interest.

The company already has a contract to test other samples for the UHBristol.

Satirical magazine Private Eye reported that Medical Solutions, which has been brought in to handle the review, already has a contract with the trust to carry out breast cancer testing.

The trust announced last month that it had ordered a review of pathology tests, including those for cancer and lung disease, after it was claimed that errors had been made in the diagnosis of 15 patients.

UHBristol spokesman Adrian Ruck said: "We totally deny there is a conflict of interest here.

"These are two independent work streams. In the audit of histopathology, each of the 3,500 samples will be examined by independent specialist pathologists from outside the South West.

"Medical Solutions is arranging for this work to be done; its role is not to review or judge the results of the audit.

"The results of this audit will be examined by an independent review group which will then make recommendations about any further action that may be required. We will announce soon who will be leading this review group."