A new mum died just months after having her baby because a cancer test she had asked for was not administered.
Essex’s coroner has raised concerns to the NHS after Quy Thi Pham, 29, died on September 3, last year.
Ms Pham died at Basildon Hospital due to cardiac arrest brought on by an extremely rare but rapid spread of cervical cancer to her lungs.
She had attended her GP around nine weeks after giving birth, but was informed that she had to wait until she was at least 12 weeks post-partum to have a smear test, which checks for cervical cancer.
On June 6, 2024, Ms Pham again tried to arrange an appointment with her GP, but she was sent a text message that said she could not be seen until July 5, which was not acknowledged.
The surgery then cancelled a rescheduled appointment for July 25, 2024, due to staff shortages, and the appointment was never rebooked.
Ms Pham attended her GP surgery on September 2, 2024, after suffering chest pain and shortness of breath. She was sent to Basildon Hospital, where she was treated for suspected pulmonary embolism. Her condition continued to deteriorate.
She was admitted to intensive care the next day, where she went into cardiac arrest and tragically died on September 3.
A post-mortem examination showed a heavy load of cancer cells that had spread to her lungs from an early-stage cervical tumour.
In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, senior coroner Sonia Hayes raised concerns over the National Cervical Screening Guidance with NHS England.
Ms Hayes added in her report that the trust hospital consultant had raised concerns around the National Cervical Screening Guidance – in some cases, rare complications of early-stage cervical cancer may not always manifest with symptoms of bleeding – and some women with cancer may be missed.
Ms Hayes added that it was not against guidelines to administer a smear test at nine weeks after giving birth, especially if the patient had not been previously tested.
The report concluded: “Those providing cervical screening services may be strictly applying the national guidelines and, with the proposed changes in National Screening, this may increase the risk for women.”
A spokesperson for NHS England, which will now review the coroner’s concerns, said: “NHS England extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Quy Thi Pham. We are carefully considering the Prevention of Future Deaths Report sent to us by HM Coroner and will respond in due course.”