LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Capita shares tumbled a day after it emerged that the company had failed to deliver thousands of cervical cancer screening letters to patients as part of a contract with NHS England.
In a statement on Wednesday, Capita said that between January and June this year, approximately 43,200 women due to receive letters were sent an invitation letter or a reminder, but not both. In addition, 4,508 results letters were delayed this year.

Capita said only a small proportion of these results required further examination, and they should all have been contacted directly by their GP.

The outsourcer said: "The risk to women of this incident is low and there is no current evidence of harm, but Capita nevertheless apologises to both the NHS and to the women whose correspondence was delayed.

"We have investigated the precise circumstances around this incident, and it is clear that the correct process for uploading, organising and checking data files was not properly followed. When the problem was discovered, it was not immediately escalated to senior leadership, or NHS England, by the individuals responsible. Capita is investigating the managerial handling of the matter and taking appropriate disciplinary action. Additionally, a senior executive responsible for this contract has already left Capita."

The British Medical Association slammed Capita for its "appalling" failure to send the letters and urged NHS England to strip the company of its contract and take Primary Care Support England services back in-house.

BMA GP committee chair DR Richard Vautrey said: "This is an incredibly serious situation, and it is frankly appalling that patients may now be at risk because of this gross error on the part of Capita. Some women will now be left extremely anxious because they have not received important correspondence, particularly letters about abnormal smear test results that need urgent follow up. This has been caused solely by Capita's incompetence.

"Since it took responsibility for GP back room functions three years ago, Capita's running of these services has been nothing short of shambolic and after repeated warnings from the BMA and government, this is now clear evidence that its failings have put patient safety - and possibly lives - at risk. It is ultimately NHS England that bears overall responsibility and it must now take this service back in-house. As the body which commissioned Capita to take on this work, despite clear warning signs that it was not up to the job, NHS England must shoulder the blame for this dreadful situation; you cannot outsource responsibility."

At 1100 GMT, the shares were down 7.8% to 116p.

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