GRANDAD David Filkins is facing an anxious wait to find out whether he was wrongly cleared of having a serious heart condition following a blunder at Fairfield Hospital.

An inquiry has been launched following concerns that a cardiac technician had read heart ultrasound results incorrectly while working at the hospital between May 23 and December 7 last year.

The misdiagnoses mean some patients may now be told they are not as sick as previously thought and could be taking stronger medication than needed. Other patients may be living with a serious heart condition despite being given the all-clear.

Experts are re-examining 1,053 scans carried out by the technician to see if they were accurately interpreted.

Letters have been sent to all patients seen by the technician, who has not been named, informing them of the concerns and patients needing a second examination have been contacted and asked to return to hospital.

The scans, known as echo-cardiograms, examine the action of the heart as it beats and works in a similar way to scans used on pregnant women to check the unborn baby.

Mr Filkins (59) underwent an echo-cardiogram at Fairfield Hospital after collapsing while at work last June. His doctor was unable to pinpoint what had caused the illness, so Mr Filkins, who works in social services, opted to see a consultant privately and was sent to Fairfield to undergo a series of different tests - including the ultrasound scan, which can detect life-threatening illnesses. To his own and his family's relief, Mr Filkins was given the all-clear. But last Thursday he received a call from Fairfield Hospital, asking him to return for a second ultrasound scan.

Mr Filkins now faces the prospect of being diagnosed with a serious heart condition which may have been missed in his original scan.

Mr Filkins, of Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, described the error as "another blunder" by the NHS. He said: "I have two children and two grandchildren and obviously it is a very worrying time for us all to think I may actually have something wrong.

"I feel OK at the moment, but can no longer guarantee that and I am obviously not very happy. The NHS needs to get its act together before anything else happens. I hope for everybody concerned that things go right for them."

Associate medical director Dr Mike Finnegan said there was a "possibility" the technician had over-reported the readings and admitted some serious heart complaints may have even been missed through under-reporting.

He said: "When a technician does a scan there is always a level of judgement. The scan is not like a blood test with a clear result - ultimately it depends on the person who reads the machine. The technician interprets it as he or she sees it and the doctor sees the conclusions. There were concerns that the reports were not accurate."

An echo-cardiogram is normally one of several tests carried out to determine exactly what treatment a patient may need. For example, if a patient was to arrive at hospital feeling breathless or running a fever, an echo-cardiogram would be carried out along with other tests such as chest x-rays or a lung examination.

No patient will have an echo-cardiogram in isolation. The doctor will then take into account all the different test results to decide what treatment should be given. Concerns were raised by cardiologists when the results of the ultrasound scan did not fit in with rest of the patients' results.

Dr Finnegan said: "We are not saying all his reports were wrong - that is certainly not the case -but a small number of cases which were raised clearly gave us cause for concern."

The technician was supplied to the hospital through an agency and was dismissed by the Pennine Acute Trust, which runs Fairfield Hospital, when concerns were raised. Most of the people affected will be from the Bury area. A helpline has been set up for anyone with concerns or questions and so far around 270 people have contacted the hospital for more information.

A spokesman for Fairfield said: "We have had busy periods, and more quiet periods. Many callers have appreciated being able to call it, and we are working hard to move the review forward as quickly, but as thoroughly, as we can."

The helpline can be contacted on 0161 656 1999 between 9am to 5pm.