Devastated Family Taking Legal Action And Hope Lessons Are Learned After Failings In Monitoring Patient’s Health

Specialist lawyers have launched legal action against an NHS trust in the West Midlands after it admitted there had been ‘missed opportunities’ to properly monitor the health of a Walsall woman who went two years without treatment for lung cancer.

Hamida Begum, who recently died aged 69 as a result of her delayed diagnosis, developed a chesty cough and fever in November 2013, with scans at Walsall Manor Hospital discovering lung nodules and suspected cancer. In May 2014, she was hospitalised for five days with pneumonia and a bronchoscopy to investigate the lung nodules was recommended, but never happened. 

A CT scan in June 2014 showed some nodules were unchanged but others had disappeared, with Hamida then being advised that a follow-up should be arranged in three to six months. However, no further appointment took place and two years later, in June 2016, a bronchoscopy confirmed a diagnosis of lung cancer where the nodule was present in 2014.

Following the news, Hamida’s son Sanakthar Khan, demanded an investigation into the care his mother received; with the report and a subsequent letter from doctors confirming that there had been failings and “missed opportunities” to properly monitor her health resulting in two years lost to follow up.

Medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell acting on behalf of Hamida’s family have launched legal action against Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and are arguing that a proper follow-up could have led to earlier diagnosis and treatment of her condition. An internal investigation revealed that the paperwork for a further scan was completed, however, it was never sent on.  

The report further admits that the ‘cancer tracker’ was not amended and the patient remained as ‘No cancer diagnosed’ as opposed to being marked as ‘suspected cancer’.

Raj Girn, the specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office who is representing the family, said: “This is an extremely tragic and concerning case in which a patient with a recent history of lung problems was advised she would get a follow-up scan. However, the appointment never happened and it was two years until Hamid was informed of her diagnosis.  

“The family are understandably filled with anger as they had to watch their mother struggle each day before her death, knowing that earlier treatment could have commenced had a follow-up scan been arranged.

“A case of this nature raises very clear concerns and while both the internal investigation and letter sent in relation to the issue has admitted to failings, the family remain determined to get justice regarding the anguish they have endured since.

“It is absolutely vital that lessons are learned from this so that similar issues related to the arrangement of follow-up appointments and cancer treatments in general are never seen again.” 

Since her diagnosis of lung cancer, Hamida underwent chemotherapy, but it was made clear to her and the family that nothing else could be done for her. A scan in December 2016 also showed that the tumour had gone on to increase in size further. Hamida died on 6th August, at St Giles Hospice, Walsall.

Mr Khan, 35, said: “The entire family is completely devastated by what Mum went through. It was incredibly difficult seeing her go through all of the hospital appointments she required several years ago, but when no follow-ups were arranged we just assumed she was in good health.

“The diagnosis of cancer was a huge shock to us all and just raised a lot of questions regarding why follow-up scans did not happen and why the issue was not spotted earlier. While the report and letter admitted to failings, we just feel that we deserve justice regarding everything that has happened.

“We are incredibly angry and frustrated and want reassurances that this will never happen to anyone else again.”

Our medical negligence lawyers could help you claim compensation if you or a loved one's lung cancer was misdiagnosed. Call 0808 163 4557 for a free initial consultation or visit our Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims page for more information.