A 90-year-old woman faced a delayed cancer diagnosis when hospital staff mistakenly conducted a CT scan on the wrong patient, as both individuals shared the same first name.
Pamela Honeybone required a CT scan at NHS Scarborough Hospital in North Yorkshire following a fall. However, due to a mix-up with another patient who shared her first name, the investigation results were erroneously attributed to her. The elderly woman’s treatment raised concerns, prompting a coroner to investigate the incident.
Following the unfortunate event, North Yorkshire coroner Catherine Cundy issued a report to the Trust to prevent future similar occurrences. The coroner highlighted that Mrs. Honeybone’s cancer diagnosis was delayed due to the scanning error, though it was uncertain whether this contributed to her passing on October 19, 2024.
The report disclosed that Mrs. Honeybone, admitted on September 19 for a CT scan, had her condition worsen as another patient with the same name underwent the scan mistakenly. Subsequently, a CT scan on October 15 revealed an abdominal mass suggesting lymphoma, leading to her transfer to end-of-life care.
The coroner identified six key issues concerning the incident, emphasizing the ongoing risks associated with misidentification and delayed error responses, which pose significant threats to patient safety.
The Trust is required to respond to the coroner’s report by November 19. In a statement, a spokesperson from York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust expressed condolences to Mrs. Honeybone’s family and acknowledged the concerns raised by the Coroner. The Trust committed to implementing necessary actions outlined by the coroner to enhance patient safety and ensure that lessons are learned from this unfortunate incident.