A WOMAN has been handed £8,000 compensation after doctors failed to send her for a scan which would have given her an early cancer diagnosis.

Consultants at Basildon Hospital sent the patient – who is being referred to as Mrs F – back to her GP after two appointments, with no explanation for some of the symptoms she was experiencing, including numbness.

It was not until she saw another neurologist five months later that a scan showed she had a tumour on her spine.

The case was published in a report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which investigates complaints of unfair treatment or poor service in the NHS and other government departments and public organisations.

Mrs F went on to have surgery, but by the time the tumour was removed she was struggling to walk.

This has not improved since the operation, which took place in September 2011. Mrs F’s claim was settled in 2014. A spokesman for the ombudsman said: “When Mrs F’s first consultant neurologist could not explain the numbness she was experiencing, he should have recognised that her symptoms were progressive and arranged for a scan of the whole of her spine.

“It was not appropriate for him to simply discharge Mrs F back to the care of her GP with a broad invitation to re-refer her if the GP felt it necessary.

“If the tumour had been diagnosed earlier, the outcome for Mrs F would probably have been significantly different. Although it is likely that Mrs F would still have been left with some physical problems, they would probably have been less severe.”

Basildon Hospital has since apologised to Mrs F and paid out £8,000, in recognition of the physical difficulties she has faced because of its failure to properly investigate her symptoms.

The trust has also told the ombudsman it will prepare an action plan to make sure lessons have been learnt from the incident.

A spokesman for Basildon Hospital said: “This incident dates back to 2011 and Mrs F was awarded £8,000.

“This was in recognition of the difficulties she experienced and we have apologised sincerely to her.

“We always want to hear from people who have not been satisfied with the services we provide.

“We are committed to continually learning from complaints and undertaking improvement work when required.”