Patients receive wrong lung cancer diagnosis following GP Christmas text blunder

PATIENTS got a text from a GP practice telling them they had lung cancer — instead of wishing them “Merry Christmas”.

Hundreds of people registered with the surgery are thought to have been sent the texts with the diagnosis in error.

That included one dad who was waiting for lung cancer test results.

Property developer Chris Reed, 57, said his partner burst into tears.

He said he tried ringing the surgery but the lines were jammed.

He raced down there and demanded to see a doctor where he was told it was a mistake and his results were negative.

Chris, of Norton, South Yorks, said: “They went from, ‘You’ve got lung cancer’ to ‘Merry Christmas’ in about an hour. Unbelievable.”

Patients with Askern Medical Practice, near Doncaster, received the text on Christmas Eve.

It asked for “a DS1500 for the above patient. Diagnosis — Aggressive lung cancer with metastases”.

DS1500 is the form that people with terminal illnesses use to claim benefits and “metastases” means a cancer has spread and is almost certainly incurable.

The surgery did send out an apology text to angry and scared patients — including the original festive message — but even that did not work right it seemed.

Becky Werrett said: “I’ve had Merry Christmas three times so far.”

The surgery was contacted for comment.