A FORMER police officer died as a result of delays to his cancer treatment at Warrington Hospital.

Denis Harrison, 62, waited six months from being diagnosed with bladder cancer to having surgery.

Now the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has found serious failings at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and said the surgery was 'unacceptably delayed'.

Mr Harrison had been referred via the urgent suspected cancer pathway in October 2016.

In line with NHS guidance, Mr Harrison’s cancer should have been treated by February 11, 2017.

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However he was not operated on until April 25, 2017, by which time the cancer was incurable.

Mr Harrison was also showing signs that the cancer had spread in March 2017, when he went to the hospital with a swollen leg.

Despite this, the Trust failed to carry out a scan which would have revealed the spread.

The failure meant Mr Harrison’s operation, when it did eventually happen, went ahead unnecessarily as the cancer had already progressed beyond an operable state.

Mr Harrison died in August 2017.

The Ombudsman investigated the case after Mr Harrison’s wife made a complaint and has concluded that the delays in treating Mr Harrison’s cancer amounted to 'a serious failure', and that the Trust should have taken reasonable steps to provide intervention more quickly.

Rob Behrens, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, said: "The failings in this case caused huge anxiety and distress to Mrs Harrison, who has been left not knowing whether more prompt treatment could have extended her husband’s life.

"The Trust knew Mr Harrison’s cancer was growing and could be treatable but they failed to act with any urgency and in line with clear NHS guidelines.

"It is essential they learn from this case."

Mrs Harrison, who did not wish to give her first name, said: "On top of my husband’s diagnosis, the Trust’s delay in arranging an operation caused both of us severe mental anguish.

"I complained to the Ombudsman because I don’t want anybody else to go through what my husband had to endure.

"The Trust needs to do more to make sure that this can never happen again."

The Ombudsman’s investigation highlighted the urgent need for the Trust to learn from its mistakes.

In response to recommendations made by the Ombudsman, the Trust has agreed to develop an action plan to address their failings, which will outline what it does differently in the future.

Kimberley Salmon Jamieson, chief nurse at Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation Trust, added: "We would like to sincerely apologise to Mr Harrison’s family for the poor care experienced, and we fully acknowledge and accept the findings within the report from the PHSO.

"The Trust has taken actions following Mr Harrison’s death and as a result of the recommendations within the report.

"We have reviewed staffing in the Cancer Services Team and have strengthened our capacity, including the recruitment of a cancer services transformation manager, a cancer data manager and additional multi-disciplinary team co-ordinators, to allow for increased management and scrutiny of pathways for our patients who have cancer. 

"This has enabled the Trust to ensure we are meeting national quality and access targets regarding cancer.

"We have introduced a new clinical lead for urology cancers within the Trust, which has further enhanced the co-ordination of care for those patients with urological cancers.

"A second surgeon is now performing nephrectomies, with a plan for them to work independently by March 2020; thereby increasing capacity within the Trust for this procedure.

"The Trust has also been selected as a pilot site for the new 28-day faster diagnosis standard for cancer, which is a national programme being introduced in 2020, in which patients should have cancer ruled out or diagnosed within 28 days of referral.

"We remain committed to learning and improving our services and we would like to reiterate our sincere condolences to the family for their sad loss."

The Ombudsman also recommended that the Trust should make a compensation payment of £3,000 to Mrs Harrison.