A major NHS trust has been forced to apologise after a retired history teacher died following a series of critical delays in diagnosing and treating her cancer.
Ombudsman Uncovers Critical Timeline Failures
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) investigated the care of a woman from Chelmsford, referred to as Mrs S. She was eventually diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer in March 2023. However, the investigation found her diagnosis took 49 days, far exceeding the national 28-day target for cancer diagnosis.
Furthermore, her treatment began a staggering 81 days after her initial referral. This was well beyond the 62-day target set for the NHS. Due to these extensive delays, Mrs S became too unwell to receive chemotherapy that doctors believed could have extended her life.
Trust's Failings Caused 'Distress'
The health ombudsman's report was damning. It concluded that the failings by the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust directly caused significant distress to both the patient and her family in her final months.
As a result of the findings, the PHSO has ordered the trust to issue a formal apology to Mrs S's family. It has also recommended a thorough review of waiting times and other systemic improvements to prevent similar tragedies.
Trust Responds with Improvement Plan
In response to the ruling, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has publicly apologised to the family. A trust spokesperson stated it is now implementing an integrated improvement plan designed specifically to speed up cancer treatment times across its services.
The case highlights ongoing pressures within the NHS on cancer care pathways. It underscores the human cost when targets for urgent diagnosis and treatment are missed, leading to what the ombudsman described as an 'early death' that might have been prevented.
