Bradford NHS trust and Panorama.

摘要

John Wright and colleagues' Correspondence letter (April 8, p 1139)1 omitted some important facts.BBC Panorama asked us in February, 2005, to compare patterns of breast cancer treatment in Bradford, UK, and in neighbouring hospitals, by surgeon, to determine whether there was any evidence to support allegations they had received about under-referral for radiotherapy. We were aware fromthe outset that the results of our analyses would be strongly contested if they provided evidence of divergent clinical practice or poor outcomes. We therefore sought advice from experts with international reputations in breast cancer treatment, cancer survival methods, and audit of clinical practice, and we refined our work in the light of their comments. Two of our clinical advisers cosign here, solely in that capacity.