A GP who missed chances to refer a cancer patient for an urgent diagnosis has been suspended and apologised to her family. 

Dr Prakashchandra Jain was given the sanction after he faced a fitness to practise hearing.

The doctor, who ran Askam's Parklands GP surgery until he retired in 2020, faced a  tribunal to examine two allegations against him.

The hearing was told he failed to send a patient for a fast-track diagnosis, only for cancer to be picked up in a screening months later.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found in February 2019 he received a patient's blood test results showing iron deficiency anaemia and he failed to refer her on the fast track suspected cancer pathway. 

And on June 3 and July 10 2019, he consulted with the patient and failed to refer her on the Fast Track Pathway when it was 'clinically indicated in light of her history and presenting symptoms'.

The hearing was told of three 'lost opportunities' to refer the patient.

Patient A was said to have had a family history of Lynch Syndrome for which she was in a screening programme.

She began to feel unwell in January 2019 and visited Dr Jain who conducted blood tests.

On 1 February 2019 Dr Jain received Patient A’s blood test results showing iron deficiency anaemia and prescribed oral iron supplements.

Patient A visited Dr Jain again in June and he noted that she was losing weight. He wrote to Furness General Hospital requesting that her next surveillance colonoscopy be brought forward.

In July 2019, Patient A consulted again with Dr Jain and he documented further weight loss, recurrent diarrhoea, burping and dyspepsia.

Patient A’s planned screening tests were carried out on December 10 2019 at which time she was found to have a carcinoma of the stomach.

The tribunal was told that in June Dr Jain told the patient he 'had done all [he] could and she would just have to wait'.

Concerns were raised with the General Medical Council by Patient A’s daughter on 14 September 2020.

The tribunal found the doctor's fitness to practise was impaired and suspended him for three months.

Panel chairman Ian Comfort said: "The tribunal accepted that this matter involved the clinical care of one patient.

"There had been no previous concerns regarding Dr Jain and his practice had been judged as Good by the CQC.

"Dr Jain had reflected on his failings and apologised to the family of Patient A.

"The Tribunal considered that Dr Jain had shown insight and the risk of repetition was low.

"However, Dr Jain’s failings were serious and placed Patient A at an unwarranted risk of harm.

"The tribunal concurred with the submissions made by both parties that the failings were such that a finding of impairment on public interest grounds was necessary to promote and maintain public confidence in the medical profession and to promote and maintain proper professional standards and conduct for members of the profession."