‘My mum would still be here if her concerning cancer scan was passed on to medics’

A grandmother who died of cancer ‘would still be here today’ if not for ‘failings by a private healthcare provider’.

Margaret Jones, from Fareham, died in August last year after learning she had lung cancer in December 2023 which had by then spread to her brain and bones.

A CT scan at GenesisCare in Portsmouth in February 2019 revealed cause for concern in her right lung – but this vital information was never passed on to medics.

Margaret, who died aged 76, was a mother of three and grandmother of 10.

Her daughter, Sarah, said Margaret suffered greatly in the later stages of her cancer, losing her mobility and experiencing devastating pain.

Sarah told Metro: ‘It’s highly likely my mum would still be here today if she wasn’t failed.

‘It’s almost too painful to talk about, the fact that it wasn’t one catastrophic failing but multiple failings of my mum [that led to her death].

‘I was exceedingly close to my mum. I saw her every day and she was my best friend.

‘To know it could have been prevented, it’s like a raw, painful open wound that can’t heal, like a void inside me that can’t be filled.’

She said her mother ‘put her life in their [GenesisCare’s] hands’ but that this ‘ultimately killed her’, adding that ‘it’s heartbreaking no one has taken responsibility’.

In the later stages of her cancer, the muscles in Margaret’s legs began to deteriorate and she lost mobility to the point that she could no longer walk up the stairs.

Her family had a stairlift installed and bought a rowing machine to help her keep mobile.

The grandmother of ten also lost her appetite and suffered with headaches and ‘terrible sickness’.

Medical evidence supports the fact that had Margaret’s cancer been identified at that time, it would most probably have been treatable, her family’s lawyers at Slater and Gordon said.

GenesisCare apologised for the breakdown in communication in passing on Margaret’s scans and claimed it had taken steps to improve its internal processes.

But Margaret’s family are ‘heartbroken, angry and frustrated’ that no one has been held accountable for the breakdown in their mother’s care.

The family have tried escalating their concerns to the General Medical Council (GMC) but said no action has been taken.

They have successfully pursued a legal claim against GenesisCare in what they described as ‘the only way we could get them to listen to us’.

Sarah said: ‘It was horrific. It broke me. It was like torture watching her rapidly decline.’

Nicole Jackson, a clinical negligence specialist, said: ‘The failings we have seen here from GenesisCare have had the worst possible consequences, and have left Margaret’s family devastated.

‘The fact that crucial, potentially life-saving information was not passed on is truly dreadful, and Margaret deserved much better.

‘If this simple process had been followed, it is most likely that Margaret would still be with her loving family today.’

GenesisCare told Metro in a statement: ‘We continue to offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Margaret Jones. 

‘The circumstances surrounding the passing of Margaret have been investigated and have resulted in lessons being learned. 

‘The events were subject to legal proceedings which have now concluded and settled. We are not able to provide any further details.

‘GenesisCare remains committed to upholding the highest standards of care and compliance and to working constructively with all stakeholders to ensure positive outcomes.’

A spokesperson for the GMC said: ‘Our thoughts and sympathies are with Mrs Jones’ family at this difficult time.

‘We carefully considered the issues raised by Mrs Jones’ family. Our role is to assess the extent of any departure from our professional standards, to make sure there is no risk to the public and confidence in doctors is maintained.

‘We take this responsibility very seriously; a decision to close a case does not mean that the concerns were not serious.

‘We recognise our decisions will sometimes cause additional distress to grieving families.’

The GMC said it examines all relevant information, before making a decision about whether the criteria for investigation and further action is met – and that it will always act where there remains a risk to the public or public confidence in doctors.

The body added that it would need to be satisfied a doctor is fit to practise and does not pose a future risk to patient safety.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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