Callum Jones
A GP surgery shocked patients after it accidentally sent a text message to a flurry of patients telling them they had lung cancer on Christmas Eve.
Instead of wishing their patients a Merry Christmas, the Askern Medical Practice sent a number of registered patients a text with the lung cancer diagnosis in error.
The Sun reports this included one dad who had actually been waiting for lung cancer test results.
Chris Reed - a 57-year-old property developer - said his partner burst into tears once she had read the text message.
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He tried ringing the practice but the lines were closed, so he raced down to the surgery and demanded to see to a doctor.
When he arrived on site, he was informed that the text message was sent in mistake and that his lung cancer test results were negative.
Chris told The Sun: "They went from, ‘You’ve got lung cancer’ to ‘Merry Christmas’ in about an hour. Unbelievable."
Fellow patient Vicky Southgate shared the message on Facebook, saying she was 'shaking and close to tears' after reading the message.
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She said: "Something's clearly not right at Askern Medical Practice. Fuming. I received this message and I’m not the only one. I was shaking and close to tears.
"Quite a few in the surgery now with the same text.
"I was near the surgery and walked in to say what the hell? I’m not the only one but people will now be worried if they’ve received this text."
The text message asked for a 'DS1500 for the above patient, diagnosis — Aggressive lung cancer with metastases'.
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A DS1500 is a form that people with terminal illnesses use to claim benefits, meanwhile metastasis is a term used by medical professions when the cancer spreads from where it was first found to other parts of the body - making it near incurable.
But just 22 minutes later, Askern Medical Practice sent out a follow-up text message to their distressed patients.
It read: "Please accept our sincere apologies for the previous text message sent.
"This has been sent in error.
"Our message to you should have read: We wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. In case of emergency please contact NHS 111 [email protected]."
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LADbible has contacted Askern Medical Practice for comment.