Blundering GP told me tumour was sign of age
TRISH Elvy says she is lucky to be alive after her GP dismissed her breast cancer as “the signs of ageing”.
She accepted her doctor’s explanation for dimples on her breast but six months later contacted a screening clinic.
Staff there sent her back to her doctor, Dr Javier Montero, who referred her to a breast care centre, where scans revealed a cancerous tumour.
Trish, 53, from Bristol, had the breast removed, six months of chemotherapy and four weeks of radiotherapy.
She has been awarded £500 compensation by the Health Ombudsman after complaining to the General Medical Council.
The ombudsman said Trish’s care “amounted to a service failure” but the GMC did not warn Dr Montero officially as he had “sought to address” his failings.
Trish said: “He hasn’t got so much as a slap on the wrist.”
Leap Valley Surgery said it sincerely apologised to her.
