Shrewsbury mum dies after cervical screening test result error

Kerry Pugh had previously been identified as having high-risk HPV, the virus responsible for almost all cervical cancer cases

A mother-of-three who died from cervical cancer was mistakenly told her screening test was normal lawyers said.

Kerry Pugh underwent checks at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in 2017, but was not diagnosed until two years later - she died aged 48 in June 2022.

Following her death, the hospital carried out an audit of results and found her routine smear test in 2018 was not normal as previously recorded.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust has offered its condolences.

"We continue to support Mr Pugh with any questions regarding the care of his wife," Medical Director Dr John Jones said.

Stephen Pugh is weighing up legal action, but despite his wife's experience he is urging other women not to miss out on cervical screening.

"I can't begin to describe the distress and exhaustion that Kerry went through," he said.

"She was a beautiful and caring person and a great mum. To see her health deteriorate as the cancer took hold of her was heartbreaking."

Mr Pugh said his wife always put the wellbeing of her children before her own

Mrs Pugh, who had a 10-year history of abnormal cells, became concerned in 2017 when she started to experience symptoms including bleeding during sex, specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell said.

She underwent checks at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and no definitive cause for the bleeding was determined.

A year later, Mrs Pugh started to experience irregular bleeding and attended a routine cervical cancer screening appointment, yet the results came back normal.

She went back to her GP about the bleeding and had a biopsy, which also came back clear.

Mr and Mrs Pugh have three children, ranging from 11 to 24

Months later, her irregular bleeding became worse and she began having pains in her coccyx.

Following tests, she was diagnosed with stage-four cervical cancer and an MRI scan showed a large invasive tumour measuring 8cm x 5cm x 5cm.

What is cervical screening?

• Cervical screening (a smear test) is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer

• In England it is offered to women every three years to women aged 25 to 49 and every five years between 50 and 64

• The sample is checked for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix. These are called "high risk" types of HPV

• If these types of HPV are found, the sample is checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix

Source: NHS

About 2,600 women a year in England are diagnosed with cervical cancer. with the Human Papillomavirus virus (HPV) responsible for almost all cases.

Mrs Pugh, a retail assistant, had previously been been identified as having high-risk HPV during cervical screening tests prior to 2017, lawyers Irwin Mitchell said.

As a result she had undergone procedures to remove cells in her cervix.

• NHS England promises to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040

• 'I avoided my smear test - don't avoid yours'

• Smear test top tips

Eleanor Giblin, the lawyer representing Mr Pugh, said: "While nothing can make up for what's happened, we're determined to at least provide Stephen and Kerry's children with the answers they deserve."

Mrs Pugh died aged 48 in June 2022

Although she was suffering extreme pain because of her illness, Mr Pugh said his wife "always tried to stay positive right to the end, especially for the children".

"She was more concerned about their wellbeing than her own," he said.

"Despite concerns about Kerry's tests results, it's vital that people continue to attend screening appointments as early detection and treatment is key to beating cancer," Ms Giblin added.