Fife NHS Board has been slammed for failing to diagnose a patient’s lung cancer until it was too late, putting his chronic cough down to asthma.
The man, considered a high risk for the deadly disease as he was a former smoker who had been heavily exposed to asbestos, died in August 2015, just weeks after his diagnosis.
He had been referred by his GP with suspected cancer to Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital in September 2014, and x-rays and scans showed significant changes in his chest and lung.
However, a consultant told him he had asthma and removed him from an expedited cancer referral pathway without review by a lung cancer multidisciplinary team.
His case, criticised by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, sparked a review by the health board of all patients removed from the pathway during the same period.
NHS Fife has apologised to the family and wife of the man, referred to as Mr C, who an independent adviser said could have been cured or, more likely, survived longer with an earlier diagnosis.
A report by the Ombudsman voiced “deep concerns about the significant and serious failings identified in Mr C’s care and treatment”.
It said: “I appreciate the distress which will be caused to Mrs C and her family to learn of this and that earlier action might, potentially, have afforded Mr C the chance of an alternative outcome; at the very least, an improved survival time.”
Failings were also identified in the nursing care provided to Mr C after his diagnosis which the ombudsman said caused stress and uncertainty for him and his family at a very difficult time.
A palliative care nurse visited him only once after his diagnosis, leaving his family feeling abandoned.
Investigation of a complaint by his wife to NHS Fife was also found to be inadequate.
The Ombudsman ordered NHS Fife to apologise for the failings and ensure that no patient with suspected lung cancer was removed from the expedited referral pathway without discussion by a lung multidisciplinary team.
NHS Fife chief executive, Paul Hawkins, said: “The death of a loved one is a traumatic experience for any family and where there are concerns over quality of care this undoubtedly compounds any distress.
“As such, NHS Fife has formally apologised to Mrs C and I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that apology.
“We note the Ombudsman’s report and accept the recommendations made within it.
“As a result, a number of systems and processes within the lung cancer service have been addressed to avoid any similar instances arising in future.”
