NHS apologises after sending Covid-19 warning letters to 10,900 dead cancer patients
COVID-19 warning letters were sent to 10,900 dead cancer patients.
The notes were intended to let vulnerable people know how to protect themselves.
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But families whose relatives had died — up to 14 years ago — were sent the letters after a computer mix-up.
NHS Digital wrongly mailed the former patients who had been treated with radiotherapy for lung cancer between 2006 and 2017.
They were among 900,000 on a “shielded patient list” which was drawn up to protect those most at risk.
But in an error in the computer algorithm - which was approved by chief medical officer Chris Whitty - included some patients who were no longer alive.
The mailing process was halted as soon as the error was spotted.
NHS Digital said:" We would like to say how sorry we are for any distress that may have been caused by the letter you have received.”
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“This shouldn’t have happened and we therefore wish to apologise.”
"We will continue to identify and rectify any issues that may arise as this process continues.”
Last month the Welsh government sent 13,000 Covid-19 warning letters to the wrong addresses.
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