Woman dies after doctors fail to properly read brain tumour scans
A woman died unnecessarily after doctors failed to operate soon enough on a growing brain tumour, according to the health complaints service.
May Ashford, from Blackpool, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2010 after experiencing headaches and seizures.
Despite regular MRI scans at the Royal Preston Hospital showing that the tumour was growing, she was not offered surgery until five years later.
An investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said the treatment was too late as medical staff had failed to monitor the scan results properly.
Medical experts said Mrs Ashford should have been operated on at least three years earlier, before the tumour had time to grow and affect the surrounding area of the brain.
She tragically died aged 71 from a stroke following surgery.
Read more: More patients to be able to skip NHS waiting lists – if they can travel for treatment
May and Alan Ashford
May’s husband Alan, who brought the complaint to the Ombudsman, said his family have found no closure.
“My wife suffered horribly from the effects of the tumour for more than four years, and it was obvious to the family and myself when reading the scan reports that the monitoring of her tumour was highly suspect,” he said.
“”The tumour should have been removed before it came into contact with the carotid artery. The fact that it was not is a complete mystery to us.”
Ombudsman Rob Behrens said this case once again emphasises the need for urgent improvements to imaging practices in the NHS.
“Our casework shows that sadly, Mrs Ashford is not the only person who lost her life because of mistakes related to scans and X-rays,” he said.
“Timely analysis and reporting of scans is fundamental to the diagnosis and management of many health conditions. The sooner we see changes made; the fewer people we will see harmed by these entirely avoidable failings.”
A Lancashire Teaching Hospitals spokesperson said: “As a Trust we acknowledge the findings of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report relating to the care of Mrs Ashford and have offered our unreserved apologies to Mr Ashford.
“A detailed action plan was provided to Mr Ashford in November 2022 describing the measures that have taken place following the PHSO investigation to ensure that other patients and their families do not have a similar experience.”
The Ombudsman’s 2021 report on NHS imaging highlighted repeated failings like those found in May’s case.
PHSO along with NHS England and the Royal College of Radiologists has urged the government to prioritise improvements to the way scans and X-rays are carried out and reported on.
The ombudsman said efforts to implement recommendations from the report have begun, but have been slow.
UK
Philip Young appears in Swindon court charged with 56 sexual offences against ex-wife – as five others also charged
A man has appeared in court charged with drugging and raping his ex-wife over a 13-year period.
Philip Young, 49, formerly of Swindon, has been charged with 56 offences, including multiple counts of rape, against Joanne Young.
He is also charged with administering a substance to allow sexual activity, as well as voyeurism, possession of indecent images of children and possession of extreme images.
Young appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning and spoke only to confirm his name and address.
He declined to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until the next hearing at Swindon Crown Court on 23 January.
The alleged offences took place between 2010 and 2023.
Philip Young was remanded in custody
The 49-year-old was taken to court in Swindon on Tuesday morning
Five other men have also been charged with sexual offences against Ms Young. The 48-year-old has waived her legal right to anonymity.
The full list of charges against Philip Young are:
- 11 counts of rape
- seven counts of sexual assault by penetration
- four counts of sexual touching
- 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy/overpower to allow sexual activity
- 13 counts of voyeurism specific to videos
- Voyeurism on at least 200 other occasions
- Possession of Indecent Images of Children:
Category A – 139
Category B – 68
Category C – 23
Prohibited – 3
Extreme – 82 (with one count each for four types: rape, animals, death, gore)
Breaching S1 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 on at least 500 occasions
The other men appeared at the same court later on and were released on conditional bail.
They are: Norman Macksoni, 47, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire. He is a black British national and has been charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images.
Dean Hamilton, 47, of no fixed abode. He is a white British national and has been charged with one count of rape and sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching.
Court artist sketch of Philip Young (right) appearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court. Pic: Elizabeth Cook/PA
Conner Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Swindon. He is a white British national and has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching
Richard Wilkins, 61, of Swindon. He is a white British national and has been charged with one count of rape and sexual touching
Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Swindon. He is a British Asian and has been charged with sexual touching.
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