More than 40 women have been recalled for cancer screenings

The news comes after it was revealed that 44 women screened for cancer at Antrim Area Hospital, where he also worked, have been recalled for tests.

The consultant, who is now suspended, was employed at Altnagelvin until 2003 and checks are now under way there.

A review of hospital procedures and an investigation into his work have begun.

The Department of Health said the women were being recalled in the Northern Board area after hospital staff had raised concerns about the consultant's "clinical judgements".

It added: "The consultant will not be returning to duty, pending further review of his work.

"The department believes the risk to these patients to be low."

Health Minister Shaun Woodward has moved to reassure patients

A reassessment of women screened at Antrim Area Hospital, where the consultant worked as a locum, is being organised for later this week.

Patients who had breast examinations at Belfast City Hospital within the last year are also being contacted.

The chief executive of Belfast City Hospital Trust, Quentin Coey, said he hoped the process could be completed as quickly as possible.

"We have decided, as a precautionary measure, to review each of the cases with which this radiologist has been involved since his appointment in November 2004," he said.

'Double-checking'

"We have identified 1,935 cases from our Symptomatic Breast Clinic to be included in the Review and an additional 240 cases assessed at the Breast Screening Centre in Linenhall Street, Belfast."

He said that after a case had been reviewed the patient would be informed in writing if it was necessary for a follow-up appointment.

The Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry is to review several thousand cases in which the consultant was involved as part of his work there for two years until 2003.

However, chief executive Elaine Way said they were confident their system of team working would have prevented any problems.

"We are satisfied that the systems in place, including double-checking of results, will have ensured that the opportunities for misdiagnosis are absolutely minimal," she said.

Health Minister Shaun Woodward has asked Dr Robin Wilson, director of Breast Screening Quality Assurance in the East Midlands, to lead an investigation into the consultant's work.

"My first concern is for the 44 women, and indeed other women, who might have been seen by this particular consultant and to put everything and anything in place," he said.

The health minister said it was possible that more women would be recalled.

This isolated incident should in no way deter women from taking up their invitations for breast screening Robin McRoberts Action Cancer

However, Mr Woodward pointed out that although the consultant in question had worked alone at Antrim Area Hospital, he had worked as part of a team at the other hospitals.

"As a result of working in a team, his secondary assessment will have been reviewed by his peer group as he was making it," he said.

"The likelihood of women being at risk, either at Altnagelvin or Belfast City, where he also worked, is very, very small indeed."

Robin Wilson said he understood the concerns of any woman who had to undergo further tests.

"Any woman who is called back for the first time is going to be anxious because of the implications of what the call back means, and they are going to be doubly anxious when they find out they have to be called back yet again," he said.

"When we went through these 514 cases we took the view that we had to be as cautious as possible and make sure that there had been no mistakes at all."

'A magnificent job'

Maggie Reilly of the patient watchdog group, the Western Health Council, said there was less concern over the period when the doctor worked at Altnagelvin.

"I have been reassured that according to the expert who was brought in - Dr Robin Wilson - that the timeframe he is particularly concentrating on is the last two years.

"This particular consultant was practising in Altnagelvin during June 2001-2003."

Action Cancer chief executive Robin McRoberts said the "isolated" incident should not deter women from getting screened for breast cancer.

"It is very important to take the opportunity to stress that the breast screening programme has done a magnificent job for 15 years or more," he said.

Helplines have been set up for anyone concerned about their breast screening result.