Inquest reports cancer patient lost to follow-up for a year

The BBC has reported that a patient at Besti Cadwaladr University Health Board went a year without a review following his prostate cancer diagnosis and initial treatment.

It is understood that the deceased was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2017, however his prostate- specific antigen (PSA) levels were not checked from November 2021 until October 2022. During that time, the deceased had not received any treatment for his condition. The deceased passed away shortly after in November 2022 due to this malignancy. As a result of the lack of reviews, his death was referred to the North Wales Coroner, who has submitted a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the Health Board.

The Prevention of Future Deaths report raises concerns regarding the Health Board’s processes, how the deceased came to have had no follow-up and why the referrals were lost.

The Health Board has until 18 March 2024 to address these issues and state what action is being taken to prevent future incidences of this nature.

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