Yorkshire NHS worker and mum who died of cancer at 63 'would likely have survived' had she been referred to specialists sooner

Michelle Varney, a GP practice manager from Sheffield, died aged 63 in June 2020 as a result of lung cancer which had been diagnosed in February of that year.

The mum-of-one from Handsworth had undergone a CT scan of her abdomen, kidneys and lungs, at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in August 2016. She had previously been admitted to hospital with suspected diverticulitis - inflammation of the bowel.

The scan detected a lesion and two nodules in her right lung as well as a kidney cyst. The results were not referred to lung specialists despite a radiologist’s recommendation. Mrs Varney continued to be monitored for her cyst for two years until September 2018.

Mrs Varney was referred to hospital in 2020 by a GP after complaining of weight loss, fatigue and hip and shoulder pain. When she was diagnosed, doctors found the cancer had spread and was not curable.

Following her death her family, including husband, Gary, 66, instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care under Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Hallamshire.

The Trust admitted liability. It admitted there was a delay in appropriately referring Mrs Varney to lung specialists. If she had been referred in 2016 further tests would have been carried out and it is likely Michelle would have been diagnosed that year. With treatment, on the balance of probabilities, she would have had at least a five year survival rate in the region of 90 per cent, the Trust acknowledged.

An inquest at Sheffield’s Medico-Legal Centre found there were “missed opportunities” between August 2016 and September 2018 to review the scan and refer Mrs Varney to lung specialists. If she had been referred, given the size of the lesion and her general good health, it was likely treatment would have been “curative”.

As a result her death from natural causes was as a “result of neglect,” assistant coroner Tanyka Rawden concluded.

Rosie Charlton, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said after the hearing: “Gary and the rest of the family are devastated by Michelle’s death and the circumstances surrounding it. What’s of particular concern to them is how Michelle continued to be under the care of Trust for two years but was never referred to lung specialists as her cancer developed.

“Nothing can make up for the pain and suffering Michelle’s family continue to experience but we’re pleased that we’ve at least been able to provide them with the answers they deserve.

“While worrying failures have been admitted in this case it’s vital people don’t lose confidence in the NHS. If people are concerned about their symptoms they should seek medical advice at the earliest opportunity.

“We continue to support Michelle’s family at this distressing time to help them try and come to terms with what’s happened the best they can.

“We also call on the Trust to ensure all lessons can be learned from what happened to Michelle to improve patient care. Early detection and treatment are key to beating cancer.”

Mrs Varney, who has a daughter Olivia, had been admitted to the Northern General Hospital, also run by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, on 30 May, 2016 with suspected diverticulitis. A scan revealed a large cyst in her left kidney with bleeding.

She was discharged and referred to the urology team at the Royal Hallamshire. She was reviewed on 17 June, 2016, and a follow-up CT scan was arranged for 5 August. A radiologist recommended Mrs Varney be referred to lung specialists for a review but this did not happen.

She remained under the care of urology. A scan in September 2016 found the bleeding on the kidney had almost disappeared. She attended two further annual reviews and was discharged from urology in September 2018.

Following her cancer diagnosis in February 2020 Mrs Varney was told that the cancer had been visible on the CT scan in 2016, a serious incident report by the Trust said.

Mr Varney said: “At no point during the time Michelle was under the care of the doctors were we given the impression that there was anything particularly concerning to worry about. However, she’d undergone tests and scans and nobody ever mentioned cancer could be a possibility.

“But that all changed when Michelle started losing weight and the pain developed. From there it felt like everything moved so quickly. We were trying to come to terms with how advanced the cancer was when we were told there were signs of it on her scan in 2016.

“Trying to come to terms with Michelle’s diagnosis was, and remains, particularly difficult to accept. Despite everything she went through in the last months of her life she fought the cancer with courage and bravery.

“Michelle was an incredible wife and mum. She was such a kind, generous and loving person and her death has left a huge void in so many people’s lives.

“She went out of her way to help others. It’s difficult to think that Michelle would still be with us if she received the care and treatment she should have.

“Michelle had worked for the NHS for 37 years and she was one of its greatest advocates. We just hope that by speaking out Michelle’s legacy can live on by helping to ensure patients receive the best care possible so others don’t have to go through what we have."