A coroner has criticised NHS waiting lists after a young woman died of cancer following ‘unacceptable’ delays.
Samantha Goward warned ‘lengthy’ delays will lead to more women dying from cancers affecting the reproductive system.
Her statement came after a 38-year-old mother died amid errors in her care.
An inquest heard Carla Smith was suffering from an ‘aggressive’ form of womb cancer, but when she was diagnosed it was too late to treat her.
Ms Goward, area coroner for Norfolk, said others are at risk of succumbing to Ms Smith’s fate.
She claimed there are waits of up to 30 weeks for an urgent referral and 60 weeks for routine referrals, while one NHS consultant confessed ‘they do not know how they can catch up with this backlog’.
Ms Smith, from Hunstanton, Norfolk, died on June 7, 2023, having been diagnosed in April that year.
Ms Goward’s Prevention of Future Deaths report said Ms Smith first attended her GP surgery in July 2022, when an ultrasound scan was arranged.
Coroner Samantha Goward warned ‘lengthy’ delays will lead to more women dying from cancers affecting the reproductive system after a 38-year-old mother died
This showed signs of a thickened layer of tissue lining the uterus, which should have led to a referral to the gynaecology team.
While a review by a different GP in September 2022 resulted in an urgent referral with an anticipated wait of up to six weeks, the coroner said this should have been a two-week wait.
Ms Smith was not seen until January 31, 2023, when a biopsy was marked as routine.
There was then a months-long delay in the sample being processed.
The report added: ‘After a further biopsy and investigations in April 2023, it was felt that Carla had stage-four cancer. Carla rapidly deteriorated and palliative care commenced.’
Ms Smith was treated at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in Colney and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.
The coroner said: ‘I heard from consultants at two hospitals and read evidence from others. At that time there were significant waiting lists.
‘The cause for concern is that some patients may significantly deteriorate while on such lengthy waiting lists. I was advised by one consultant that they do not know how they can catch up with this backlog.’
Ms Goward added that there are waits of up to 30 weeks for an urgent referral and 60 weeks for routine referrals (file pic)
Wes Streeting warned earlier this month that delivering Labour’s pledge to restore 18-week waiting times by the time of the next election two years later will be a ‘big, tough challenge’
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s CEO, Alice Webster, admitted: ‘The delays and errors in the care provided were unacceptable.’
The Department of Health and Social Care has until March 26 to respond to the report.
