Mr A complained that the Medical Centre should have referred his wife for the appropriate investigations at an earlier stage, and that its failure to do so led to her diagnosis of terminal stomach cancer being delayed.
What happened
Mrs A reported ongoing symptoms of weight loss, vomiting, stomach bloating and constipation to her GP in autumn 2013. She attended numerous appointments over the course of the following five months, reporting similar symptoms. In spring 2014 Mrs A was admitted to the A&E department of her local hospital after being examined by a GP. Following further investigations, a diagnosis of terminal stomach cancer was confirmed in spring 2014. Mrs A was admitted to a hospice later, and passed away a short time after.
What we found
The Medical Centre should have referred Mrs A to hospital under the two–week suspected cancer pathway when she presented with her symptoms during two appointments in 2013. Further opportunities were missed before she was eventually referred in early spring 2014.
It is likely that, if Mrs A had been referred in 2013, her cancer would not have been operable and that her treatment would have been palliative. This treatment could have led to an improvement in her symptoms and she may have had longer to live. An earlier referral would also have given Mr A an additional four to five months to prepare for losing his wife.
Before our investigation, the Medical Centre apologised to Mr A and put in place measures to reduce the chance of a similar episode occurring again in future. We found that the Medical Centre did not go far enough to remedy the injustice caused to Mr A by its failure.
Putting it right
Following our investigation, the Medical Centre paid Mr A £2,000.
A medical centre
Greater London
Did not apologise properly or do enough to put things right
Compensation for non-financial loss