Great-nephew of NHS founder dies due to clinical negligence
- 27.06.2019
- JessicaMG
- Clinical-negligence, Clinical-negligence
The great nephew of Aneurin Bevan (a founder of the National Health Service) - Roderick Bevan - died after two NHS trusts made serious errors during his cancer treatment, an inquest found.
The inquest found that neglect contributed towards Mr Bevan’s death after he was not offered radiotherapy treatment until over a year after his initial cancer diagnosis.
Mr Bevan was diagnosed with cancer in October 2016 whilst being treated for a separate condition, after a tumour was identified during a scan at Boston Pilgrim Hospital.
However, medical professionals at both Pilgrim Hospital and University Hospitals of Leicester Trust, which later took over his care, did not inform Mr Bevan that he had lung cancer until January 2018.
The narrative verdict recorded at the inquest concluded, on the balance of probabilities, the treatment proposed for Mr Bevan "would have been successful" if doctors had ensured he underwent stereotactic ablative radiotherapy.
Mr Bevan's daughter, Paula, said: "I feel that my dad was totally let down by the NHS, whose founder was Aneurin Bevan, who, as the name suggests, my dad was related to - it was his great-uncle.
"I am sure that he would be appalled by the events that have unfolded."
Lesley Herbertson, a Partner within our Clinical Negligence team, comments:
This very sad case underlines the importance of joined up thinking within the NHS. In situations, such as this, where a treatable condition has been diagnosed, it should go without saying that the appropriate is given as soon as possible. Sadly, we see too many cases in which either there has been a failure to diagnose and then treat a condition or a failure to treat a condition that has been diagnosed. Both scenarios represent equally poor care, which can have devastating effects on patients and their families.
Lesley is a Partner and Solicitor within the Clinical Negligence department here at Potter Rees Dolan. Should you wish to speak to Lesley about delays in treatment, delays in diagnosis or indeed any other aspect of this article, please contact us on 0161 237 5888 or email Lesley directly.