Bharat Gharu, 71, from Redbridge, London, died minutes after being left in a hospital corridor while screaming in pain, his family has said. He was initially diagnosed with acute pancreatitis after complaining of abdominal pain and bloating, but later found to have stage four pancreatic cancer that had spread to his lungs, liver and bones.
Initial misdiagnosis and delayed follow-up
In June 2024, Gharu first experienced discomfort in his abdomen. He was admitted to hospital, diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, and discharged. Doctors said there would be a follow-up appointment two months later, but the family said he never heard back from them.
In November 2024, he was admitted back to hospital with the same symptoms. Staff found a growth and assured him it would be checked. By the end of January, Gharu was back in hospital for a biopsy, where he was told he had stage four pancreatic cancer that had spread to his lungs, liver and bones.
Final hours in agony
On the morning of March 16, 2025, Gharu collapsed in the bathroom. His daughter Careena Gharu, 39, said the palliative care team initially suggested it was probably hemorrhoids and would not send anyone out. The family called 999, and after delays, he was taken to hospital.
At the hospital, Gharu was allegedly left waiting in a corridor for at least 20 minutes. His daughter said a paramedic took his blood pressure, which read 44 over 29, and believed the reading was wrong. Gharu then said he could not breathe and died.
Family complaints and trust responses
Careena formally complained about the service from both the paramedics and the palliative care team. She said the paramedic's report contained contradictions, with the first paramedic reportedly concerned about blood on his legs and the possibility of a catastrophic hemorrhage, yet blue lights were not used because the report said the catastrophic internal bleed occurred after arrival at the hospital.
Dr Fenella Wrigley, chief medical officer at London Ambulance Service, said: “We offer our sincere condolences to Mr Gharu’s family and are very sorry for the distress they experienced during his final hours.” She added that the service had carried out a detailed clinical review and that clinicians had met with the End-of-Life Care team as part of learning from the complaint.
A spokesperson for NELFT, responsible for the palliative care team, said: “We offer our sincere condolences for the loss of Mr Gharu and are sorry for the concerns raised about their experience.” The trust said it had taken actions including additional training for staff and the introduction of an on-call triage service.
A spokesperson for Barts Health NHS Trust said: “We offer our heartfelt condolences to Mr Gharu’s family and loved ones and are sorry that they feel his care did not meet the standards they expected.” The trust said that after reviewing the clinical notes, it believed Gharu was treated appropriately given the seriousness of his medical condition.
