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Cancer Missed: Coroner Blasts NHS Over Test Failures
8 Sep
Summary
- Coroner flags serious concerns over missed cancer diagnosis opportunity.
- Woman died from complications during surgery to remove cancerous mass.
- Alternative tests were not offered when colonoscopy was unsuitable.
A coroner has raised significant concerns regarding the care provided to Marie Bell, who died due to complications during surgery for bowel cancer. In a report following an inquest, Coroner Abigail Combes has written to NHS England, highlighting a failure to offer Bell diagnostic tests that could have identified her cancer sooner.
Bell was referred for a colonoscopy in February 2025, four months before her death. However, she was unable to undergo the procedure due to hip problems, and the coroner noted no evidence that an alternative, such as a CT scan, was offered. This led to a delay in diagnosis, although the coroner stressed this did not cause the surgical error.
The coroner emphasized that if one investigative method is unsuitable due to a patient's conditions, alternatives should be explored rather than assuming the patient declines all investigations. NHS England has stated that systems are in place for alternative tests and is reviewing current guidelines with regional trusts, including Gateshead Health and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
