A helpline has been set up after more than 1,200 women in the island were caught up in a breast cancer screening scare.

A total of 26 women have been recalled for additional assessment, which will show whether they need any further treatment.

The revelations, which are unconnected to the recent breast screening scandal in the UK, emerged at a press briefing given by Health Minister David Ashford on Wednesday.

They centre on the workload of a radiologist, who is no longer employed at Noble’s Hospital.

There is concern that a number of cases between January 2015 and March 2017, were missed and should have been recalled for further investigation.

Mr Ashford said: ’I understand the news is likely to cause distress and anxiety for some. We are doing everything possible to ease that distress.

’I offer the women concerned and their families a sincere apology.’

Matters came to light in September 2017 when a small, unspecified number of women, who had been screened during those dates and given the all-clear, presented with symptoms of the disease.

Mr Ashford said: ’At that point it was decided that the workload of one radiologist would be looked into.’

The Department of Health and Social Care commissioned an external review of all 1,213 screenings carried out over the two-year period.

Mr Ashford said: ’The department could have taken the approach of just doing a sample check.

’I think we took the much more sensible approach of saying we would review the entire workload. It was a huge undertaking.’

The review, conducted by radiologists at centres in the UK, has shown that in the vast majority of cases the original findings were correct.

Letters of reassurance have been sent out in the post to these women this week, giving them a second all-clear.

But in 26 cases, women have received letters by courier informing them that further investigation is required.

However, the department has stressed there is no suggestion at this stage that they have breast cancer

The Minister promised to expedite these further investigations, saying that the women concerned will receive ’appropriate and timely care’.

Clinics have been organised at Noble’s where the women recalled can discuss their concerns with healthcare professionals. A helpline has been set up for anyone affected.

Mr Ashford said the radiologist concerned left their job at Noble’s to take up another post in the UK prior to the matter being discovered.

He refused to name the radiologist but said they had been referred to the General Medical Council.

Mr Ashford pledged: ’We intend to investigate fully the causes of this issue to establish why practice within one of our services at Noble’s Hospital fell short of the high standards we should all expect.

’However, our first priority is to respond to the needs of all those affected by the review; anything else is at this stage of secondary importance.’

He added: ’When something like this happens it does knock people’s confidence in the service we deliver.

’However it is important to stress that I do have full confidence in the remaining staff at Noble’s Hospital, who do do a very tough job.’

Screenings took place at the old breast clinic in Westmoreland Road between January 2015 and February 1, 2016, and later at the new Manx Breast Unit at Noble’s Hospital.

Julie Stokes, chairman of Manx Breast Cancer Support, the charity which raised over £1.5 million to build and support the new unit, said: ’Through the generosity of the Manx public we have been able to provide one of the best equipped breast units in the whole of the UK but obviously we have no input into the radiologists that are employed at Noble’s.

’It goes without saying, however, that we are more than happy to offer advice and support to any of the women affected by this. They can call our mobile number, 454647, any time to speak to us.’

The equipment the charity has provided at the new breast unit includes a state of the art digital breast tomosynthesis machine - a 3D mammogram - making it one of a very small number of screening services in the British Isles to have such advanced diagnostic equipment.

However, Mr Ashford insisted the issue had nothing to do with the equipment.

’It’s down to the interpretation, regardless of the equipment,’ he said.

’If the interpretation had been correct then these 26 women would have been recalled. We can’t get away from that.’

The helpline number is 642400. It will be available from 10am to noon and 2pm to 4pm.