Health trust sorry for test errors

Concerns about Dr Brox's work were raised by a fellow doctor

A health trust has apologised to patients who had to have their cases reviewed after a German doctor misinterpreted their test results.

Dr Georg Brox, a consultant histopathologist at Crawley Hospital in West Sussex and East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, Surrey, was suspended, and has since resigned, after making 19 errors during checks for various diseases.

A spokesman for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said nine people were given incorrect or unnecessary treatment while a further 10 were not recalled for more tests at the right time.

Any misinterpretation by a histopathologist, which affects patient treatment, is a matter of deep regret and great concern

Ken Cunningham
Trust chief executive

Concerns about Dr Brox's work were first raised by a fellow doctor last April and he was sent for assessment in a large teaching hospital, where his professional performance was found to be below standard.

He was immediately suspended and an external review by the Royal College of Pathologists also concluded his work was "unacceptable".

Chief executive Ken Cunningham said: "I would like to express my sincere personal apologies to any patient who may have received inappropriate treatment or who might be otherwise concerned.

"Any misinterpretation by a histopathologist, which affects patient treatment, is a matter of deep regret and great concern.

Reported to GMC

"But in this particular case I believe our system of checks and balances worked well in picking up this problem and dealing with it."

Checks on all the 1,780 tests carried out by the doctor, who resigned in January, have now been completed.

Dr Brox has also been reported to the General Medical Council.

Histopathologists analyse tissue or fluid samples from patients to diagnose a variety of illnesses including, in some cases, cancer.

Mike Stone, spokesman for The Patients' Association, welcomed the trust's decision to suspend Dr Brox.

"The hospital has done the right thing by suspending him and has taken appropriate measures to protect patients," he said.