{"id":25415,"date":"2025-04-06T00:29:09","date_gmt":"2025-04-06T00:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=25415"},"modified":"2025-04-06T01:26:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-06T01:26:03","slug":"cancer-screening-reporting-errors-led-to-mums-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=25415","title":{"rendered":"Cancer screening reporting errors led to mum&#8217;s death"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new\" class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-0 haItSe\">\n<div class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-1 cjDa-dM\">56 minutes ago<\/p>\n<p><!--$!--><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 oYtVL dRvUPz dXDmtS\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 iQJDhl cCYQUA kItbpD\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Save<\/span><\/button><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--$!--><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 oYtVL dRvUPz dXDmtS\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 iQJDhl cCYQUA kItbpD\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Save<\/span><\/button><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 ejjhCR\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/f660a1f0-097f-11f0-97e4-bd334276dd19.jpg.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Family handout Louise Gleadell pictured before the severity of her cancer illness took hold. \" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\" \/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 hesJxn\">Family handout<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The family of a mother who died from cervical cancer after twice being wrongly told she had negative results have been awarded undisclosed damages.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The misreporting of Louise Gleadell&#8217;s cervical screening results was admitted by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust following her death aged 38 in March 2018.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">An internal review in 2017 found the samples, taken four years apart, were not good enough to produce reliable results but neither Ms Gleadell &#8211; a mum to three boys &#8211; nor her relatives were told about the &#8220;inadequate&#8221; samples while she was still alive.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Her family have now been given an undisclosed payout, with the trust apologising for its mistakes that had &#8220;devastating consequences&#8221;.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Ms Gleadell, from Cossington in Leicestershire, was diagnosed with cervical cancer two years prior to her death. It was, by that stage, too late to have surgery.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Two cervical screening tests, carried out in 2008 and 2012, were misreported to her as negative. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">It meant that over a four-year period, she had been given false reassurance about her health when she was developing cervical cancer, and the opportunity to treat pre-cancerous cells passed.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">In fact, following the trust&#8217;s 2017 internal review, both samples were found to have been &#8220;inadequate&#8221;, and it found Ms Gleadell should have been invited back to have the tests repeated.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/9fbe5ed0-0981-11f0-97e4-bd334276dd19.png.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Clare and sister Laura pictured at the home they grew up in at Cossington in Leicestershire\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Ms Gleadell&#8217;s sisters, Laura and Clare Gleadell, say their grief has been compounded by knowing that their sister&#8217;s death was avoidable.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Laura, 43, said: &#8220;Her death was preventable and that for us is ultimately really hard.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;It would not have developed into cancer had she been recalled in either 2008 or 2012.  <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;If she had had treatment for cell abnormalities before it even developed into cancer, she would not have died.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Clare stressed knowing the test results were misreported and led to her death is &#8220;incredibly hard to live with&#8221;.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The 40-year-old added: &#8220;It is something we probably think about most days, if not every day.&#8221; <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The sisters described Louise as devoted to her three boys, who were aged two, 11 and 13 when they lost their mum.  <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;Family to her was everything,&#8221; they said. <!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/66aa3db0-0997-11f0-b6a3-51bb8c2f0bab.png.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\" \/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 hesJxn\">Family handout<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Louise began feeling unwell in late 2015, experiencing pain, abnormal bleeding and unexpected weight loss.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">By February of the following year, she was so concerned about her health that she paid privately for an ultrasound scan. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The findings led to further investigations, and a biopsy provided by the NHS led to a diagnosis of cervical cancer in March.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Louise underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and brachytherapy &#8211; which is internal radiation treatment. Initially, she recovered well but a few months later developed new symptoms.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Towards the end of 2016, doctors told her the disease was terminal.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">With donations, Louise travelled abroad for immunotherapy in Germany but ultimately it did not stop the fatal spread of the cancer. She died at the Loros Hospice in Leicester.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/8bdef890-0998-11f0-94d4-6f954f5dcfa3.png.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\" \/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 hesJxn\">Family handout<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The NHS routinely looks back and re-examines test findings after someone is diagnosed with cervical cancer.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">After appointing solicitors to examine the case, the family found out that the NHS trust knew of the misreporting of the results in the summer of 2017 &#8211; before Louise died.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">It is not clear why Louise was not told about this.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Specialist clinical negligence lawyer, Gemma Lewis, of Moosa-Duke Solicitors, uncovered the situation and said the trust should have told Louise.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think the family should have had to find out from me,&#8221; she added.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;Someone with a medical background should have explained things, who could answer any follow-up questions.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;It should not take a legal investigation &#8211; that they might not have decided to undertake &#8211; to uncover the truth.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ec982460-099b-11f0-b6a3-51bb8c2f0bab.png.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Solicitor Gemma Lewis worked with the family a close up picture of her looking straight into the camera. \" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Richard Mitchell, chief executive at the trust, said: &#8220;I am deeply sorry that mistakes were made in how we cared for and communicated with Louise and for the devastating consequences.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;Errors like those in Louise&#8217;s care are rare, and there have been significant improvements in cervical screening since 2019 when human papillomavirus (HPV)  testing was introduced nationally. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;Locally, following an investigation into Louise&#8217;s care, we have strengthened our processes for sharing the findings of cervical screening quality audits to ensure timely and open communication.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;We understand Louise&#8217;s family may still have questions and we have reached out to offer a meeting.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/b469f110-099e-11f0-8334-4f7f79599abf.png.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Laura and Clare Gleadell sitting on a memorial bench overlooking their sister&#039;s grave in Leicestershire \" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Following the trust&#8217;s apology, Louise&#8217;s sisters stressed that they would encourage all women to go for a <!-- --><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/cervical-screening\/\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 beIoQm\">cervical screening<!-- --><\/a>.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The NHS says cervical screening checks a sample of cells from your cervix for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">These types of HPV can cause abnormal changes to the cells in your cervix and are called &#8220;high risk&#8221; types of HPV.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">If high risk types of HPV are found during screening, the sample of cells is also checked for abnormal cell changes.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">If abnormal cells are found, they can be treated so they do not get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Louise&#8217;s sisters added that they intended to take up the trust&#8217;s offer of a meeting. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Clare said: &#8220;We have unanswered questions &#8211; exactly how and why was Louise given false information after her smears and why, after her diagnosis, when the mistakes were highlighted were the family not told?<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;The hardest part is seeing Louise&#8217;s three boys without their mother. It&#8217;s heartbreaking &#8211; the impact of went wrong has been awful.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"links-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jVHuOl\">\n<div class=\"sc-93223220-0 sc-46222299-0 ctbOlq eluqFz\"><span data-testid=\"links-title\" class=\"sc-46222299-2 gdGcRT\">More on this story<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"links-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jVHuOl\">\n<div class=\"sc-93223220-0 sc-46222299-0 ctbOlq hmFIuq\"><span data-testid=\"links-title\" class=\"sc-46222299-2 gdGcRT\">Related internet links<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>56 minutes ago<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24693,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25415","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25415"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25415\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25424,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25415\/revisions\/25424"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}