GMC To Investigate GP After Alleged Delay In Breast Cancer Diagnosis

A breast cancer patient has welcomed the General Medical Council’s decision to investigate the conduct of one of the GPs responsible for her care, amidst allegations that there were critical delays in her diagnosis.

Emma Southall, 33, from Smethwick in the West Midlands, first raised concerns in December 2008, when she visited Hill Top Medical Centre in Oldbury, after discovering what she believed was a lump in her right breast.

The mother of two was referred to a specialist at Sandwell Hospital in December 2009 after several visits to her GP surgery, and was given the devastating diagnosis that she had grade 3 breast cancer which had spread to her neck and other parts of her body.

The General Medical Council (GMC) will hold a fitness to practice hearing against Dr Hany Sadek Fahmy Hanna, based at Hill Top Medical Centre in Oldbury, who was one of the GPs responsible for Emma’s care. The hearing in Manchester, which is listed for seven days, starts on 13 March 2012.

Emma, a learning support assistant, who is married to Jason, 36, and has two children, Zac, 14, and Bryony, 8, has also called on Medical Law and Patients Rights experts at Irwin Mitchell to help with her battle for justice.

Laura Daly, a medical law specialist with Irwin Mitchell, who is representing Emma, has confirmed that a separate civil action against some of the GPs at the surgery is ongoing.

Laura commented: “We are in the early stages of investigating Emma’s claim for potential problems in her care.

“However, the GMC’s investigations will be focusing on the conduct of one particular doctor. In addition to investigating Dr Hanna’s alleged failure to refer Emma to a specialist, we have been informed that the Fitness to Practise Panel will focus on claims that Dr Hanna failed to provide good clinical care in that he did not adequately assess her condition nor make adequate records in her medical notes.”

Emma Southall said: “I am grateful to the GMC for conducting an investigation. However, regardless of the outcome, I have to live with the consequences of what happened and sadly nothing can turn back the clock.”

If you or a loved one have received negligent medical care from your GP you could be entitled to claim compensation. Visit our GP Negligence Claims page or our Breast Cancer Delayed Diagnosis Claims page for more information.