Mother-of-three dies of cancer after doctors incorrectly said cervical smear test results were normal

The size of the growth, which measured 8cm x 5cm x 5cm, meant surgery was not an option.

Ms Pugh had an operation to have a stoma fitted and underwent a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

However, the treatment was too late and she died aged 48 in June 2022 from cervical cancer.

Following her death, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, which analysed the 2018 test, carried out an audit of the screening results.

It found that despite originally being reported as normal, the sample actually showed severe cell changes.

Her husband, Stephen Pugh, instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate whether more could have been done to diagnose her cancer sooner.

Mr Pugh, 45, is considering taking legal action against the Trust and has urged women to be aware of the signs of the disease.

The network support engineer said: “I can’t begin to describe the distress and exhaustion that Kerry went through.

“Although she was suffering extreme pain because of her illness, Kerry always tried to stay positive right to the end, especially for the children.

“Kerry was absolutely everything to me and we all miss her every day.”

No Byline Policy

Editorial Guidelines

Corrections Policy

Source