A woman who developed advanced cervical cancer has settled her medical negligence claim against an NHS trust after a smear test was incorrectly reported as normal, delaying treatment and allowing the condition to progress to an advanced stage.
Timeline of events
In 2016, Alice, who was in her late 30s, attended her GP surgery for a routine cervical smear test. The sample was analysed by the defendant NHS trust and reported as normal, and she was reassured and returned to her routine.
Over the following years, Alice continued to experience heavy and irregular bleeding. She attended her GP surgery on several occasions and was treated with medication and hormonal contraception. Ultrasound scans suggested benign gynaecological conditions, including fibroids and adenomyosis.
From spring 2021, Alice’s bleeding became continuous. She was referred to a gynaecology team and had a phone consultation in late autumn. No physical examination was carried out at the time, and no cervical abnormality was detected.
Despite ongoing symptoms, Alice was not diagnosed with cancer until early 2023 when she underwent a hysteroscopy and biopsy. The results showed high grade cervical abnormalities and invasive squamous cell carcinoma.
Further investigations revealed a large cervical tumour, which had spread to her pelvic lymph nodes. Alice was diagnosed with stage 3C1 cervical cancer. She underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and high dose brachytherapy. Although she initially responded well to treatment, later scans showed that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in her neck and chest, requiring further investigation and follow up.
A later review of Alice’s initial cervical smear confirmed it had been misreported. The smear showed high grade dyskaryosis, a serious pre-cancerous change, which should have led to urgent referral for colposcopy and treatment.
The defendant NHS trust admitted that if the smear had been reported correctly, Alice would have been seen within weeks, undergone a loop excision (LLETZ) procedure, and the abnormal cells would likely have been completely removed. This would have prevented the development of invasive cervical cancer. Because of the missed diagnosis, Alice underwent aggressive cancer treatment, which could have been avoided. She experienced significant physical and emotional distress, including the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, premature menopause, and the psychological impact of an advanced cancer diagnosis.
The prolonged period of symptoms before diagnosis also affected her mental health, daily activities, and confidence in leaving the house. She continues to require ongoing monitoring and lives with the long-term consequences of her treatment.
How we helped Alice’s delayed diagnosis claim
The defendant NHS trust admitted full liability at an early stage, accepting that the 2016 smear test had been incorrectly reported and that this failure caused Alice to develop advanced cervical cancer.
With our support, Alice’s claim progressed without the need to issue court proceedings, and a settlement was reached. The compensation reflects the pain, suffering, life changing treatment and long-term impact of the trust’s failings.
A note from Natalizia Capizzi
“Alice’s case highlights the devastating consequences that can arise when abnormalities on a cervical smear are missed. Early detection and treatment of pre-cancerous changes is highly effective. In her case, a simple and routine procedure would likely have prevented the need for intensive cancer treatment and the lifelong effects she now faces. We are pleased that liability was admitted, and that Alice’s experience has been acknowledged.”
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