Key facts
- Darren Rosheski's partner, Helen Dutton, died after her bowel cancer was misdiagnosed and diagnosed late.
- A GP initially dismissed Dutton's symptoms, including passing blood, as irritable bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids in 2016.
- Dutton was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer in 2019, two years after her initial GP visit.
- She received extensive treatment but her cancer returned, leading to her death in August 2021 at age 40.
- Rosheski settled an out-of-court claim against the NHS for an undisclosed sum.
- The NHS in England paid out nearly £190 million over five years to settle 870 cancer misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis claims.
Darren Rosheski has spoken out about the devastating impact of a delayed cancer diagnosis on his partner, Helen Dutton, stating that no financial compensation can make up for her death. Dutton, a 35-year-old finance manager and mother, initially presented with symptoms including back pain, passing blood, and altered bowel habits in late 2016. Her GP misdiagnosed these as signs of irritable bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids, failing to recommend further investigation.
Two years later, a different doctor at the same GP surgery referred Dutton for tests, which revealed she had advanced stage 4 rectal cancer that had already spread. She underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, achieving remission in June 2020, but the cancer returned two months later. Dutton tragically died in August 2021 at the age of 40.
Rosheski, who was financially dependent on Dutton along with their daughter, hired solicitors to sue the NHS. He reached an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum in January, emphasizing that he would 'rather be poor and have Helen still around' and that a family was 'destroyed by a doctor's negligence.' Both he and their daughter have suffered significant mental health issues, including Rosheski's diagnosed PTSD and complex grief, which have impacted his ability to work.
These personal circumstances come as new figures reveal the NHS in England has paid out nearly £190 million over the past five years to settle 870 claims related to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of cancer. The total costs, including legal fees, have risen from £32 million in 2020/21 to £41.3 million in 2024/25. Solicitors like Olivia Boschat of Bolt Burdon Kemp highlighted that these figures are alarming and reveal devastating consequences for patients, with lives cut short due to errors and negligence.
Boschat noted that difficulties in accessing urgent cancer testing on the NHS are often a key factor in such lawsuits. While some delays are unavoidable, others stem from overlooked symptoms, insufficient tests, or missed results. The average cost of settling these actions has increased by 20% over five years, reflecting greater harm to patients, such as the need for more aggressive treatment or impaired fertility, particularly in younger individuals.
The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged that mistakes occur and that early and accurate diagnosis is crucial. They stated that progress is being made, with 82,000 more people receiving timely diagnoses or all-clear results in the past year. Initiatives like 'Jess's rule' and a national cancer plan aim to equip GPs with digital tools for earlier detection of concerning symptoms and test results.