NHS paid £40.3million compensation last year over failing to spot patients’ cancers

THE NHS paid a record £40.3million in compensation last year over failing to spot patients’ cancers, official figures show.

The health service was sued by 314 people — who won an average of £130,000 each where the NHS admitted negligence in their diagnosis.

Clinics open themselves to legal action if patients suffer serious consequences due to delays or test results being wrongly interpreted.

NHS Resolution data shows in the four years since the Covid crisis there have been 1,125 payouts worth £135million, compared with 580 at £55million in the four years prior.

Hospitals are bursting at the seams with waiting lists at record highs.

Cancer can be difficult to diagnose as symptoms are often vague such as stomach aches or tiredness.

Last year the NHS paid out £355million for 1,785 lawsuits after failing to diagnose illnesses of all kinds.

Guy Forster, of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, said: “Some patients will have required more extensive treatment than would have been necessary, while others face a much worse prognosis.

“The reality is that these failures in care are avoidable and the growing numbers of cases suggest that lessons are not being learned.

“When negligence has been proven, it is right that patients are compensated.”

An NHS spokesman said: “We know the NHS needs to do more to ensure more people receive a rapid diagnosis.

“People with any worrying signs or symptoms should get checked at the earliest opportunity.”