Doctors at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport 'failed to spot tumour' in 47-year-old man

Doctors at Stepping Hill Hospital have admitted 'failings in the care' of a patient who died from an undetected tumour.

Gary Bradshaw, 47, died after medics missed opportunities to spot the tumour while he was waiting for kidney stone surgery.

Stockport coroner John Pollard recorded a narrative verdict and said: “A number of opportunities were missed – some of which might have alleviated his level of suffering and others of which might have actually extended his life expectancy.”

Mr Pollard will now write to the hospital about his concerns.

Mr Bradshaw was diagnosed with kidney stones in 2011 and pencilled in for surgery at the hospital in September 2012.

Medics failed to realise the dad-of-two had a tumour in his neck.

In the run-up to the operation, Mr Bradshaw, of Chancel Mews in the town centre, was prescribed a drug after high calcium levels were spotted in his urine.

The court was told those high levels should have led to further investigation into calcium levels in his blood - but the test wasn't carried out quickly enough because of 'human error'.

Mr Bradshaw was admitted to hospital in June 2012 as the illness began to cause him 'extreme' pain.

He died in intensive care on July 12, 2012, from a heart attack brought on by the high calcium levels as a result of the tumour.

Speaking outside court, Samantha Tweedie, Mr Bradshaw’s partner of 17 years, said: “We just wanted what happened recognised so it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“At the hospital, there were no answers to our questions – nobody could say what was going on or why.

“The hospital has admitted it wasn’t right and he shouldn’t have been left how he was.”

Dr James Catania, medical director for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said after the inquest: “We deeply regret our failings in the care of Gary Bradshaw, and have apologised unreservedly to his family for the grief that this has caused.

“It is clear that on this occasion our services fell short of expectation in a number of respects. We are profoundly sorry for this and must learn from Gary’s tragic death.

“We launched an immediate investigation to fully understand exactly what happened and why.”