Horror Christmas Mix-Up: Patients Told They Have Lung Cancer Instead of Festive Wishes
Patients at a GP surgery near Doncaster faced a shocking Christmas Eve blunder when a text meant to spread holiday cheer was replaced with a dreadful lung cancer diagnosis by mistake.
Christmas Eve Nightmare at Askern Medical Practice
Instead of being wished a “Merry Christmas,” hundreds of patients registered at Askern Medical Practice received a terrifying message. The text read: “A DS1500 for the above patient. Aggressive lung cancer with metastases.” For those in the know, a DS1500 is a form terminally ill patients use when applying for benefits, and “metastases” means the cancer has spread, almost certainly untreatable.
The surgery quickly apologised, stating: “Please accept our sincere apologies for the previous text message sent. This was sent in error. We should have said to you, ‘We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.’“
Emotional Fallout: Patients Devastated
- One patient, anxiously awaiting lung cancer test results, broke down in tears after receiving the grim text. His partner found the surgery’s phone lines jammed, forcing him to rush in person. He was later told his results were actually negative.
- Another patient took to Facebook saying they were “shaking and on the verge of tears” after the message. They slammed the practice, warning: “Something is clearly wrong at Askern Medical Practice.”
- One angry patient revealed this wasn’t a one-off: “This is not the first time I’ve received this message. Several people in the surgery right now are reading the same text. People will be seriously worried.”
Healthcare Chaos Ahead of Christmas
The shocking text fiasco has left patients traumatised and questioning the competence of Askern Medical Practice. As the festive season should foster goodwill, this mistake has caused needless fear and distress for many.
