Relative of NHS founder died after ‘life-threatening mistake’ by two trusts
The great-nephew of NHS founder Nye Bevan died following ‘life-threatening’ mistakes by two trusts treating him for lung cancer.
Roderick Bevan died after doctors at both Midlands-based trusts failed to tell him he had a tumour or begin proper treatment.
By the time they realised their mistake his condition had become terminal and he could not be saved.
Lincolnshire coroner Paul Smith concluded Mr Bevan, of Grantham, died of natural causes contributed to by neglect, adding that he would have been saved had he received radiotherapy.
The 66-year-old’s daughter, Paula, said she was sure the Welsh Labour Party MP ‘would be appalled by the events that have unfolded’.
The coroner’s findings noted that the retired caretaker could have survived had he received radiotherapy.
Mr Bevan’s inquest at Boston Coroner’s Court back in May heard how the tumour was identified during a PET scan at Boston Pilgrim Hospital in October 2016.
Despite further appointments, medical professionals at Pilgrim Hospital as well as the University Hospitals of Leicester Trust, which later took over his care, did not tell Mr Bevan he had lung cancer until January 2018.
Man Utd reject PSG offer to swap Neymar for Paul PogbaRecording a narrative verdict the coroner said: ‘By that time his condition had deteriorated such that he was no longer a candidate for active treatment.
‘On balance of probabilities, had the results of the PET scan and/or the recommendation of the Multi Disciplinary Team meeting of October 11 2016 been acted upon promptly, the treatment proposed for Mr Bevan would have been successful.’
Ms Paula Bevan said she felt her father was ‘totally let down by the NHS, whose founder was Nye Bevan who, as the name suggests, my dad was related to – it was his great-uncle’.
‘Considering the trusts had already admitted liability beforehand, I would have expected a certain amount of support from the trusts due to the neglect and poor care of my father,’ she added.
‘No one deserves to be let down like this and my dad had such a big heart and even when he was suffering, he sent me a text which I still have, it said “Keep happiness in your heart, everything will be alright”.’
Christine Bowerman, senior associate solicitor at JMP Solicitors who advised Ms Bevan about her father’s case, said the coroner’s findings were ‘the best that we could have hoped for’.
She said the lawyer who represented her at the inquest asked the coroner to find both trusts had made ‘gross failings’ on the basis that ‘everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong’.
‘The finding that death was by natural causes contributed to by neglect was the best that we could have hoped for from an inquest and it did reflect that Mr Bevan’s death could certainly have been avoided,’ Ms Bowerman added.
Dr Neill Hepburn, medical director at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of Mr Bevan.
‘We accept that there were opportunities for us to communicate more effectively with Mr Bevan and have carried out a full investigation into the circumstances of his death.
‘We have learnt from this and have reviewed our practices and procedures.’
A man is campaigning to get a Michelin star for KFCAndrew Furlong, medical director at Leicester’s Hospitals, said: ‘Unfortunately, Mr Bevan died in tragic circumstances; for that we remain incredibly sorry.
‘At the time, we carried out a serious incident review, involving his family, to help us understand exactly what happened and learn lessons.
‘Since our review we have made significant improvements to prevent this happening again.
‘This includes any patient with suspected cancer appearing on a daily list (tracking system) which is visible to key clinicians and managers across the organisation.
‘This means that investigations, treatment plans and care can be put into place and tracked as appropriate.
‘We again offer our deepest sympathies to Mr Bevan’s family and friends and wholeheartedly apologise for their loss and the distress this has caused them.’
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