Decision Report 201601598

Summary

Mrs C complained about the care and treatment provided to her late niece (Miss A) by the practice. Miss A had reported gynaecological symptoms and after examinations and tests, she was diagnosed with an infection. Miss A received treatment for this, however, a few months later, she reported similar symptoms. She was seen on a number of occasions and provided with treatment. When her symptoms persisted, a referral was made to the local gynaecology department and a scan was arranged. Miss A was later diagnosed with cervical cancer following an emergency hospital admission. Mrs C complained that, given the level of contact Miss A had with the practice, she had not received appropriate care for her reported symptoms.

After taking independent advice from a general practitioner, we did not uphold Mrs C's complaint. We found that Miss A had had an infection and that the symptoms she reported later were consistent with infection or complications of an infection. The advice we received was that it was reasonable to consider that her symptoms were due to infection and that the practice had arranged appropriate tests and referrals for Miss A.