Hull Girl in Legal Bid after Cancer Left Undiagnosed
Undiagnosed cancer after seeing four doctors
A 16 year old girl from Hull is finally getting treatment for cancer 2 years after it went undiagnosed, initially presenting herself to her doctor’s surgery with symptoms of Ovarian Cancer.
Hayley Duplock from Hedon in Hull began to experience sickness after eating, she also complained of pains across her right hip and abdominal area and weight gain. Worried that something was wrong she went to Church View Surgery in Hedon, Hull on numerous occasions between 2005 and October 2007.
Despite being seen by four different doctors in relation to these problems the health professionals at the surgery were unable to come to a conclusive diagnosis. Despite her symptoms worsening over the 2 year period she was not referred for any scans or for any specialist opinions instead she was simply referred to a dietician as they believed her weight gain and other symptoms could be down to poor diet and over eating or even irritable bowl syndrome.
Hayley improved her diet but the symptoms didn’t subside. On 31 September 2007 Hayley attended her GP with her father, Kirk Betts. Mr Betts complained that Hayley’s problems had been going on too long and that they could not be a result of poor diet as this had been addressed.
The GP on that occasion agreed to refer Hayley for a scan at the Princess Royal Hospital Hull which she underwent on the 1st October 2007. The very next day the GP surgery called Hayley and her GP advised that she had to immediately attend Hull Royal Infirmary for further testing. She was not told what the scan had shown.
On the 5th October 2007 Hayley underwent an MRI scan at Hull Royal and was later advised that she had a cyst on her right ovary, which was about the size of a rugby ball.
Hayley was transferred to St James’s hospital in Leeds and in early November last year she underwent open surgery to remove the cyst. She was in intensive care for 3 days. Further tests carried out on the cyst found that it was a cancerous Ovarian Granulosar Cell Tumour.
Hayley was advised that the cyst had ruptured before surgery and therefore she would have to undergo chemotherapy as some of the cancerous cells had escaped and embedded into the tissue of her abdomen. Hayley is now undergoing monthly chemotherapy treatment.
Hayley’s family have now consulted law firm Irwin Mitchell to consider potential legal action against Church View Surgery who they claim should have referred Hayley for specialist attention much earlier on.
Solicitor Margaret Poyner from law firm Irwin Mitchell who is representing Hayley, said: “We are currently investigating this case, our clients believe that had Hayley been seen sooner, and operated on whilst the tumour was less developed, it would not have ruptured leading to the painful treatment and uncertainty that Hayley is now subjected to.”
Hayley’s mother Karen Betts said: “I cannot understand how 4 different doctors saw my daughter at this surgery yet none referred her when she showed obvious signs of great distress and serious illness.”
“Hayley’s education has suffered during the entire length of her illness, on top of which she is now going through painful treatment for a cancer which we are all hoping and praying has not spread.”
Undiagnosed cancer claims
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