Second doctor found to have given cancer patients ‘incorrect treatments’

Health Minister Jillian Skinner said haematology patients of one doctor at two southern Sydney hospitals received the “incorrect treatments”.

NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner has revealed a new group of cancer patients have received incorrect treatment by another doctor. Picture: Stephen Cooper

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ANOTHER NSW doctor has been found to have given “incorrect” cancer treatments to patients.

Health Minister Jillian Skinner said haematology patients of one doctor at two southern Sydney hospitals received the “incorrect treatments”.

The doctor, Kiran Phadke worked at Sutherland and St George Hospitals until April 2016 and he was suspended in June. It is unclear why Ms Skinner is only now releasing the information.

The incorrect treatments were administered for as long as 13 years and it appears a large number of patients were affected.

The incorrect treatments were administered by Dr Phadke for as long as 13 years and it appears a large number of patients were affected. Picture: Facebook

“I am sorry Dr Phadke’s patients and their families had this experience and I regret the uncertainty they are enduring at an incredibly emotional and difficult time in their lives,” Mrs Skinner said.

“I thank the hospital staff whose courage to come forward uncovered the concerns and led to an investigation. I praise South Eastern Sydney Local Health District for their handling of this matter.

“We are now strengthening oversight to ensure no doctor works in isolation,” she said.

Mrs Skinner said a complaint was first raised about Dr Phadke’s choice of treatment for a blood cancer patient following the revelations about a St Vincent’s oncologist who treated patients against protocol.

Dr Phadke was suspended from Sutherland Hospital at Caringbah in June.

St George hospital was one of two in which patients were affected.

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It comes as Ms Skinner released the final report into the St Vincent’s Hospital chemo scandal today, revealing that 129 patients received “off protocol” low doses of the chemo drug Carboplatin from senior oncologist Dr John Grygiel.

It follows a six-month investigation by Cancer Institute boss Professor David Currow.

It reveals that 129 cancer patients were given lower-than-recommended doses of Carboplatin between 2006 and 2015 by Dr Grygiel.

Of those, 103 were being treated for head and neck cancers. The other 26 patients were being treated for a range of different cancers.

Dr John Grygiel gave ‘off protocol’ low drug doses at St Vincent’s Hospital. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The report says of the 103 head and neck cancer patients, 37 have since died of cancer, five died of non-cancer causes and four died from unspecified causes.

“At this point in time, the inquiry is unable to quantify the impact of this prescribing on cancer recurrence or mortality rates,” Prof Currow wrote.

To reassure patients that their treatment is sound Mrs Skinner said several steps have been brought in including new computer software and a review of all cancer patients who have been treated in the past five years.

A helpline, manned by registered nurses, has been set up for any patients to raise concerns on 1800 875 526.

Have you or anyone you know been affected by the ‘incorrect treatments’? Email [e-mail]

Dr Kiran Phadke, Director of Medical Oncology St George and Sutherland Hospitals was suspended from his role in June. Supplied