Health

Breast cancer may have gone undetected in women across Harrow after it emerged the screening process was not up to scratch.

In board papers released last month Harrow Primary Care Trust (PCT) slammed Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital, which is commissioned to carry out routine mammograms, because it was failing to hit targets.

As it stands the hospital in Enfield carries out screening for Harrow women aged between 50 and 70 who have free scheduled screens every three years as part of a national NHS programme.

However, the minutes of the recent paper said the hospital is failing to see as many patients as expected.

It also condemns the quality of the process and suggests that screening standards were not being met either.

It reads: "There is a real issue of the local population experiencing a poor breast screening service, comparative to the national level.

"Local residents are not being screened properly or to proper standards, which is unacceptable.

"Breast screening continues to be under-trajectory and a letter has been written to the current provider of this service notifying them that Harrow PCT will look into providing this service locally if it is not improved substantially."

Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital argued that the standard checks alluded to in the meeting were made a long time ago and that more recent processes show the service has improved.

But uptake is still under-trajectory as the hospital is still working to undertake more screenings.

A spokeswoman said: "There have been no issues of any clinical concerns and the North London Breast Screening Service continues to meet all Quality Assurance and clinical standards.

"Following a recent visit by the Quality Assurance Team, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust is being held up as an example of good practice for other Breast Screening units to follow.

"The North London Breast Screening Service is keeping to the agreed screening timetable and is working pro-actively with all PCTs, including Harrow PCT, to minimise any delays and to improve uptake and coverage.

"Proposals for new screening sites have been made and discussions are being held to ensure that the screening timetable can be achieved."

A health centre in Kenton serving 30,000 patients is being closed immediately by medical bosses because of spiralling maintainence costs.

Harrow Primary Care Trust's board decided on October 21 to shut the complex once it relocated the existing services over a period of six to eight weeks.

The clinic serves people in the wards of Kenton East, Kenton West and Queensbury, a population described by the trust as having a "significant need" and "some of the lowest life expectancies in Harrow".

This means patients will have to go to nearby GP practices and other health centres for phlebotomy, podiatry, mental health, physiotherapy, health visitors, and infection control services, and for mother and baby clinics, and child health clinics.

Kenmore Clinic is a single storey 1950s building and the trust's board decided to close it after being told an estimated extra £35,000 to £40,000 would have be invested this financial year alone to address the immediate upkeep concerns of the "poor infrastructure condition".

In addition, an independent health and safety review found problems with disabled access, the presence of asbestos, fire safety compliance, heating and hot water failure, and substandard lighting.

The report found that within five to 10 years, a complete renovation of the building was needed in any case, at a cost of between £3m and £4m.

The trust will launch a public consultation on redeveloping the site, with the details to be finalised at a board meeting in December.

An inquest in to the death of a woman who suffered massive brain damage when nurses dislodged vital breathing apparatus got underway this morning.

Velina Spence, 46, was being rolled by staff while the sheets of her bed were being changed in Northwick Park Hospital's Intensive Care Unit on September 10, last year.

A heart charity is looking for volunteers to help with collecting donations in the Harrow area.

By Elaine Okyere

Patients are being turned away from a doctors' surgery in Harrow after a row between health chiefs and the owner.