Mother's anger at cancer 'error'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/7010644.stm

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A 29-year-old mother-of-three is seeking compensation after discovering a mole on her leg was cancerous, months after thinking she had the all-clear.

Elexa Thommason, of Llandybie, Carmarthenshire, heard nothing after the mole was removed and sent for tests at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli.

She said her case was reviewed after the hospital found mistakes with the work of a locum consultant pathologist.

Carmarthenshire NHS Trust said it could not comment on individual cases.

Mrs Thomasson's case has emerged after the trust had said last week that an un-named medic had been dismissed.

It said 10 patients at the hospital had had their treatment changed, four needed further tests and five needed 'minor procedures'.

The trust said all patients affected had been contacted.

After seven months I had a phone call from my GP telling me that it was malignant Elexa Thommason

Ms Thommason said her mole was removed in February. She noticed it started to get bigger and darkened.

"After a couple weeks I went down to my local GP and had it taken off and then it was taken away...[to the hospital] for histology and that was it - I thought everything was fine.

"After seven months I had a phone call from my GP telling me that it was malignant... that they had taken a second look at it.

"I was crying. It has probably made things worse. Because I have three small children that is worrying as well."

She said she had a second procedure within a matter of days, but was not told mistakes had been found with the work of a consultant until last week.

"I did not know anything about it until the day before it went out on the headlines. A doctor came to see me.

"I was relieved to know what had happened, why they took a second look at it. I am angry really."

Carmarthenshire NHS Trust had previously stressed that all patients affected were contacted at the earliest opportunity and the most seriously affected were contacted directly by the clinician in charge of their case.

It said it was the trust's own internal audit that had revealed the errors.

The trust said anyone who needed reassurance should contact the hospital's information line on 01554 783048.