Mr M was treated at the Trust for colonic cancer. His wife complained about shortcomings in the treatment and surveillance of his disease, which contributed to his death.
What happened
Mr M had surgery at the Trust to remove a cancerous tumour. The pathology report suggested that its removal may not have been complete and several years later another tumour was identified. Mrs M asked us to investigate a number of issues relating to Mr M's treatment. She felt that the Trust had missed a number of opportunities to identify and treat her husband's cancer.
What we found
While the removal of Mr M's tumour could theoretically be classified as 'incomplete', there was no evidence that this was the case, because the follow-up surveillance, which complied with the cancer guidelines then in force, failed to identify any further tumour for almost four years. However, communication with Mr M regarding further treatment options was inadequate.
Putting it right
The Trust has acknowledged and apologised for the poor communication with Mr M.
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
West Yorkshire
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