Woman's 'inhumane' wait for cancer test results

Aylene Henry said her mental health was suffering

A woman from Kent has said she is "disgusted" at having to wait weeks to find out the extent of her cancer and what treatment she may need.

Medway Maritime Hospital patient Aylene Henry, from Rochester, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2024 and had a mastectomy, reconstruction surgery and lymph nodes removed on 31 December.

She said she is still waiting for results on the extent of her cancer and whether she will need hormone therapy, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which is responsible for the tests, has apologised to Ms Henry and said her results have now been shared with her doctors.

'Constant state of anxiety'

Ms Henry said "it feels like nobody cares and I'm being palmed off".

She added that the wait had left her in a "constant state of anxiety" as she was unable to make support arrangements at work or at home.

"My mental health is truly suffering as I have no answers to my cancer status nor a treatment plan," she said.

"How many other patients must be in a state of limbo and feeling this way?"

Pathology results for Medway Maritime patients are conducted centrally by the Kent and Medway pathology network.

When Ms Henry asked Medway Maritime NHS Trust about the results, she said she was told to "complain to another trust".

Ms Henry said the situation was "inhumane".

"To have people waiting indefinitely for cancer treatment plans and being told to complain to another trust as its not Medway's fault is disgusting service to patients and shows a lack of accountability by the trust," she added.

A spokesperson for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: "Our laboratory teams work hard to ensure that all tests are processed as quickly as possible so that any ongoing care can then be planned.

"We understand that any delays in providing test results can mean an anxious wait for patients and we have offered our sincere apologies to Mrs Henry.

"Her results have now been shared with the NHS colleagues providing her care."