£300,000 Settlement Secured Following Delayed Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer

The client attended her GP with recurrent urinary tract infections, dysuria and severe urinary urgency. In late 2015 she was referred to Gynaecology but was discharged without referral to Urology. With ongoing symptoms, her GP referred to Urology in September 2017. Investigations in early 2018 confirmed invasive high-grade bladder cancer.

The Defendant hospital Trust admitted that the client should have been referred by Gynaecology to Urology in 2016, which would have resulted in the cancer being diagnosed two years earlier; however, they denied that resulted in any permanent injury. The expert medical evidence obtained by Zoe confirmed that the delay allowed the cancer to progress, causing obstruction of the urinary system, repeated infections and significant deterioration in kidney function. As a result, the client required a nephrectomy (removal of a kidney) and developed stage 4 chronic kidney disease, which will progress to end stage renal failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Although the Defendant initially denied that the delay caused permanent injury, Zoe robustly challenged this position through meticulous collation of expert medical evidence and without prejudice negotiations. The Defendant ultimately accepted that, but for the delay, the client would not have required a nephrectomy or faced future end stage renal failure. The claim settled for £300,000, providing vital financial support for the client’s future care.