Reacting to news that patients have discovered they have been diagnosed with cancer through the NHS App, Dr Clare McNaught, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said:
"Innovations like the NHS App have a vital role in improving NHS services, empowering patients to take an active role in their own medical care.”
"However, medical professionals should always be the ones to break the devastating news of a cancer diagnosis. They have the skills and experience to help patients understand their results and discuss the options for treatment. You cannot underestimate the importance of face-to-face discussions in bringing support and hope to patients in this situation.”
"NHS guidelines are clear that patients should not receive diagnoses for serious conditions through digital channels without adequate support or context. Therefore, it is imperative that the NHS learns from this and implements robust safeguards to ensure sensitive patient data is not released in the NHS App until a medical professional has contacted their patient."