Last Christmas? Oops – we meant Merry Christmas!
A UK doctor’s practice texted thousands of patients with the terrifying news they were dying of “aggressive lung cancer” – despite wanting only to wish them a “merry Christmas”.
Askern Medical Practice in Doncaster sent the automated text on Friday, two days before Christmas, warning of “Diagnosis – Aggressive metastatic lung cancer,” the BBC said.
It asked patients to fill out a form that allows people with terminal illnesses to claim benefits and left many who got it in tears.
But within an hour, the practice sent a follow-up and offered “sincere apologies for the text message previously sent.”
“Our message to you should have been, ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,'” the screenshot read.
Askern Medical Practice in Doncaster sent the texts on Friday, leaving many of its patients in tears. Facebook
The BBC said the horrific mix-up had been broadcast to everyone registered at the practice – that would be almost 8,000 patients.
Carl Chegwin told the broadcaster that the accidental message “was enough to break someone up”.
“The first thing I thought was, ‘Is that some kind of sick joke?'” he recalled.
At least one of those who got it, Chris Reed, 57, was awaiting results after tests for lung cancer – with the text seemingly confirming his worst fears and making his partner cry, he told the Telegraph.
“They went from ‘You have lung cancer’ to ‘Merry Christmas’ in about an hour. Unbelievable,” said Reed, who was unable to reach the doctor’s office because of so many other horrified patients calling.
The BBC said the harrowing error may have been broadcast to nearly 8,000 patients at the practice, including some awaiting cancer results at the time. Facebook / Askern Medical Practice
Sarah Hargreaves told the BBC that she was also waiting for the results of cancer tests at the time and “felt sick to the teeth and collapsed” when she received the text message.
In addition to the mishap, the mere fact that such sensitive messages were shared via text message left many patients stunned.
Some even questioned if any of them even got a double shock.
“What if this message was meant for someone and then they’re told it’s a Christmas message and then they’re told again, ‘Oh no, that was actually for you’?” Chegwin said.
The group that runs the Askern Medical Practice told the BBC that no one was available for comment.