Ms R complained that the GP Practice misdiagnosed a lump on her father's knee as a cyst when it was later found to be cancerous, did not refer him for a biopsy and did not take appropriate action when the lump grew. Ms R complained that the Trust then failed to diagnose her father's cancer. Ms R believed her father might have survived if he had had an earlier diagnosis. She said that he was in considerable pain in the last months of his life.
What happened
The Practice initially referred Mr R to the Trust for investigation of the lump on his knee. A consultant saw him and diagnosed a cyst. Over the next seven months, Mr R saw GPs at the Practice eleven times, four of which were specifically about his knee. The Practice then referred him back to the Trust, where clinicians diagnosed Mr R with terminal cancer.
What we found
We partly upheld this complaint. There were no failings in how the Practice initially responded to Mr R's knee swelling. However, it missed opportunities to make an earlier referral back to the Trust when his symptoms did not improve.
That said, this would not have prevented Mr R's death. An earlier diagnosis, however, would have meant he got appropriate pain relief and would have given him and his family time to adjust to the diagnosis and prognosis.
We found no failings in the Trust's actions. The initial diagnosis of a cyst was understandable in Mr R's case.
Putting it right
The Practice wrote to Ms R to acknowledge the failing and explained what it will do differently in future.
A GP practice
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Wiltshire
Did not apologise properly or do enough to put things right
Recommendation to learn lessons or draw up an action plan