A RADIOLOGIST who wrongly gave 22 women with breast cancer the all-clear had worked with patients on behalf of Bury Primary Care Trust, it has been revealed.

The consultant radiologist, who has not been named, made a series of errors analysing the results of breast mammograms while working at North Manchester General Hospital and Trafford General.

Health experts have admitted the delay in spotting the disease has 'worsened the outlook' for 17 of the women who were recalled. The consultant, who has since been suspended, also dealt with 29 women for Bury Primary Care Trust and seven of them had to be called back to have their mammograms re-checked, although they were each given the all-clear.

Almost 2,500 scans had to be checked again from Trafford and North Manchester after concerns were raised over the quality of the consultant's work last April. An expert panel was called in to investigate and their report was published on Tuesday.

A total of 176 women were called back for further scans and 28 were found to have some form of breast cancer. Six had benign growths but 21 had invasive breast cancer and one had a treatable tumour.

Of those 22 with the disease, 17 had a delay in diagnosis of more than three months which can have a significant impact on survival chances. All of the women affected by the blunder are now receiving, or have received, the appropriate treatment. As a precaution, the consultant's ultrasound work is also being reviewed.

David Cain, chief executive for Trafford Healthcare Trust, said: "We have contacted all our patients whose diagnosis was delayed to apologise and offer support.

"Those that wished to meet with me and senior colleagues have done so which has allowed us to apologise in person.

"We know that this review has touched many women and their families and may I apologise again to everyone for the anxiety that has been caused."

Dr Chris Harrison, director of public health for Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority, said: "The report concludes that we have seen very different situations in terms of patients requiring treatment at the two hospitals.

"More work is now required to analyse the reasons for this. That work will take place through an independent, external review commissioned by the health authority which will be tasked with establishing both how and why this situation occurred."

Helplines for patients involved in the review are available on 0800 587 9583 for Bury, 0161 656 1999 for North Manchester, and 0161 455 0059 for Trafford.