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| Missed cancer diagnosis widower criticises Southmead Hospital report | Missed cancer diagnosis widower criticises Southmead Hospital report |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The husband of a woman who died after repeated failures to diagnose her cervical cancer says he is "convinced there are other victims out there". | The husband of a woman who died after repeated failures to diagnose her cervical cancer says he is "convinced there are other victims out there". |
| Julie O'Connor was given the all-clear by doctors at Southmead Hospital in Bristol more than three years before a private doctor diagnosed her cancer. | Julie O'Connor was given the all-clear by doctors at Southmead Hospital in Bristol more than three years before a private doctor diagnosed her cancer. |
| An NHS report, seen by the BBC, has concluded there were "errors and failings" in Mrs O'Connor's care. | An NHS report, seen by the BBC, has concluded there were "errors and failings" in Mrs O'Connor's care. |
| The trust has said it was "extremely sorry for failing Mrs O'Connor." | The trust has said it was "extremely sorry for failing Mrs O'Connor." |
| Mrs O'Connor had a cervical smear test in September 2014 that came back as negative. | Mrs O'Connor had a cervical smear test in September 2014 that came back as negative. |
| Doctors at Southmead said she had another condition known as a cervical ectropion. She was eventually diagnosed three years later by a private consultant who found a 4.5cm tumour. | Doctors at Southmead said she had another condition known as a cervical ectropion. She was eventually diagnosed three years later by a private consultant who found a 4.5cm tumour. |
| Mrs O'Connor and her husband Kevin later sued the hospital for its failings. | Mrs O'Connor and her husband Kevin later sued the hospital for its failings. |
| An independent report said there were "serious errors" and a failing by the trust to act urgently when it was discovered Mrs O'Connor did have advanced cervical cancer. | An independent report said there were "serious errors" and a failing by the trust to act urgently when it was discovered Mrs O'Connor did have advanced cervical cancer. |
| It said staff would "always carry with them the knowledge they could and should have done better". | It said staff would "always carry with them the knowledge they could and should have done better". |
| But Mr O'Connor criticised the report and said it did not cover the full length of his wife's cancer care. | |
| "It doesn't go back to 2014, it doesn't cover the smears, the biopsies and the missed clinical observations," he said. | "It doesn't go back to 2014, it doesn't cover the smears, the biopsies and the missed clinical observations," he said. |
| "We need to consider other victims, look further back, look back to 2014, and make sure we've got a safe and effective screening. | "We need to consider other victims, look further back, look back to 2014, and make sure we've got a safe and effective screening. |
| "I am convinced there are other victims out there." | "I am convinced there are other victims out there." |
| Mr O'Connor added: "There were six opportunities to intervene which they failed. | Mr O'Connor added: "There were six opportunities to intervene which they failed. |
| "We sent them off for analysis to four different university hospitals across the country, [they] all came back that it was unreasonable that any competent pathologist would have not picked this up." | "We sent them off for analysis to four different university hospitals across the country, [they] all came back that it was unreasonable that any competent pathologist would have not picked this up." |
| Prof Tim Whittlestone, North Bristol NHS Trust's acting deputy medical director, said the trust was "sorry for causing Mrs O'Connor's family so much pain and suffering". | Prof Tim Whittlestone, North Bristol NHS Trust's acting deputy medical director, said the trust was "sorry for causing Mrs O'Connor's family so much pain and suffering". |
| "We are determined to learn from this and have made significant changes to the way we examine and test for cervical cancer, which I am confident will detect and prevent more cases in future," he said. | "We are determined to learn from this and have made significant changes to the way we examine and test for cervical cancer, which I am confident will detect and prevent more cases in future," he said. |
| "We fully accept the recommendations of the independent review and have been discussing publication dates with Mr O'Connor." | "We fully accept the recommendations of the independent review and have been discussing publication dates with Mr O'Connor." |