Woman's ovarian cancer death was avoidable, coroner finds

A woman's death from ovarian cancer could have been avoided if she was correctly diagnosed, a coroner has ruled.

Catherine Jones, 35, from Hawarden, Flintshire, was wrongly told she did not have cancer twice over a three year period before she died in 2016.

She could have survived if a cyst that was removed from her ovary three years earlier had been correctly classified, coroner John Gittins said.

"Her death was avoidable," he added.

After an operation to remove the ovarian cyst at Wrexham Maelor Hospital in 2013, Ms Jones was told there was no need for a follow-up.

But Ms Jones, who worked as a nurse at the hospital, had cancer which then progressed unchecked.

She fell ill in 2016 and was referred for an urgent hysterectomy after which cancer in her right ovary was discovered.

She was given the all clear following that operation and told she did not need further treatment, but died from cancer four months later.

Ms Jones's husband, David Jones, said he was "utterly devastated" by her "avoidable, undignified, uncomfortable and premature death".

"Catherine was an incredible, kind and loving person. I feel extremely privileged that Catherine chose to journey through her life with me at her side and be my loving wife," he said.

"I am, however, utterly devastated and can't believe that my journey through life with Catherine physically by my side came to a painful, traumatic, distressing and unnecessarily premature end," he added.

"No longer will I be able to see her smile, take her hand in mine or dance with her.

"Catherine could have shone even brighter, fulfilled her ambitions, saved more lives and offered so much more, if, she had only been allowed the time on this earth."

Mr Gittins said he would issue two reports into the prevention of future deaths.

He said the first would be to the Welsh government regarding what he described as the "slow progress" of the delivery of the electronic records system within the health service.

He said the second would be to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), adding: "I still have my concerns that the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing."

BCUHB's acting deputy CEO, Dr Nick Lyons, said: "The issues raised within this inquest have given us a further opportunity to reflect on how we investigate failures in care.

"In this case, we unreservedly accept the findings of the Coroner. We will respond to his specific concerns and list the actions we will take to guard against such failings, in due course.

"Most importantly, I would like to offer my condolences to Catherine's family and apologise for the failings in her care."