Woman died after cancer 'all clear'

One of 28 women wrongly given the all-clear by a doctor who misread breast cancer scan results has died from the disease.

The woman, who has not been named, died after the botched diagnosis was not spotted for at least three months. Consultant radiologist Amjad Husien's blunders sparked a review of almost 2,500 mammograms at the Trafford General Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital, in Greater Manchester.

Of the 28 women wrongly given the all-clear, 18 were told that their chances of surviving were "significantly" worsened. One woman's breast cancer was only noticed two years after she was given the all-clear.

The revelation emerged as the NHS North West published a report into the scandal yesterday. Report author Professor Mark Baker blamed Mr Husien, named as "Dr A" in the report, for the errors, adding his failure was "compounded by systematic weaknesses in Trafford NHS Trust".

But despite Mr Husien's colleagues reporting concerns about his work in November 2003, he was allowed to continue working for a further 17 months.

Mr Husien has been suspended and is the subject of a General Medical Council investigation.